The announcement on Wednesday by the chairman of the Press Council of the council's initial membership marks an important landmark in the modern history of journalism. The media industry, belatedly, has moved to honour its commitment to regulating the newspaper and magazine sectors. The council's establishment recognises the need for the press to provide a system of redress for the public when it abuses its powerful position.
The traditional recourse to the enormously costly courts system is beyond the means of many citizens. People should have a right to a speedy corrections and clarifications system, as of right, without having to incur the costs of a court case.
Both the public and the media should gain from the new accountability proposed. The format of the Press Council was designed to avoid the deficiencies of self-regulation and the political control that a Government-appointed, State-nominated body would have imposed on the press. The new 13-member council, although industry-funded, consists of an independent chairman in the former provost of Trinity College, Prof Thomas Mitchell, six independent figures representing the community, and six representatives from the industry.
The independent members, who reflect engagements and experience from academe to industry, rural society, the law, and the integration of immigrants, were appointed by an independent panel consisting of Dr Miriam Hederman O'Brien, the former chair of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, Dr Maurice Manning, president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, and the former ombudsman, Kevin Murphy. The council's first task will be to appoint a press ombudsman, the key figure in the new independent regulatory regime. He/she must be capable of gaining the confidence of complainants and redressing the more prurient aspects of media coverage.
At that stage it will be possible for aggrieved readers to ask for help quite simply, and at no cost, from the ombudsman and council to rectify errors and to confront breaches of the newly-evolved independent standard of conduct. When complaints are upheld the publication concerned will be required to publish an apology or retraction in the form and prominence prescribed by the council.
The Press Council's ability to carry out its work will be facilitated by the restoration of the Defamation Bill to the order paper in the Oireachtas. It fell on the dissolution of the last Dáil. It provided for qualified privilege for the decisions of the council. This immunity is important if the council is to be independent in its deliberations and decisions. There is a change of Government, however, and every appearance that the new Minister may not be committed to the full provisions of Michael McDowell's Bill. It would be a pity if the media and the new council were not put to the test before changes in policy are implemented.