Newspapers trusted less than banks, says MST study

The self-regulation of newspapers in the UK is insufficiently effective, largely unaccountable and failing to reflect the radically changed media environment, according to a major review published today.

The study by the Media Standards Trust finds that an inadequate Press Complaints Commission has contributed to less public trust in journalism and now poses serious threats to press standards and press freedom.

Research commissioned by the MST for the report, conducted by YouGov, found that only 7% of the public say they trust national newspapers to behave responsibly - a lower trust score than banks.

Furthermore, 75% of people think that ‘newspapers frequently publish stories they know are inaccurate' and 70% believe there are ‘far too many instances of people's privacy being invaded by newspaper journalists'.

Working in consultation with a group of 12 leading figures in journalism - including Simon Kelner, managing director of The Independent and David Seymour, former readers' editor at The Daily Mirror - the MST report also found there is growing concern about press intrusion into people's private lives, which some in the industry believe has "significantly increased" in the past two years.

According to the report, six in ten people now think the government should do more to prevent national newspaper journalists from intruding on people's private lives, while almost three quarters of the public (73%) would like the government to do more to ensure that newspapers correct inaccurate stories.

Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust, said: "Without urgent reform we believe that self-regulation of the press will become increasingly ineffective at both protecting the public and promoting good journalism and, without prompt action, there is a real danger that it will become increasingly irrelevant."

Called A More Accountable Press, the review has been prompted by the economic pressures now apparent throughout the industry, where print circulations and advertising spend are both on the decline.

Other key drivers behind the report were said to be "the radically changed technological environment" and the criticism of press self-regulation made by the House of Lords Select Committee in its study The Ownership of the News.

The MST is set to carry out an "extensive consultation" over the course of the year before publishing its recommendations at the end of 2009.
by Arif Durrani
source