Links to – and very brief summaries of – the regulatory, self-regulatory and complaints bodies dealing with the media in the UK.
Press Complaints Commission
- PCC website
- PCC complaints process
- PCC online complaints form
- Contact the PCC
- Follow the PCC on Twitter
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) is the independent body which deals with complaints from members of the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines, including their websites, and some online-only publications. Complaints are assessed against the Editors’ Code of Practice.
Ofcom
- Ofcom website
- Ofcom complaints process
- Ofcom online complaints form
- Contact Ofcom
- Follow Ofcom on Twitter
Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. Television and radio sectors, fixed line telecoms and mobiles, and the airwaves over which wireless devices operate fall within its jurisdiction. Ofcom considers complaints about programmes transmitted by all broadcasters licensed in the UK against the Broadcasting Code, but complaints about accuracy and impartiality in BBC television and radio programmes are dealt with by the BBC Trust.
BBC Trust
- BBC Trust website
- BBC Trust complaints procedure
- BBC Trust online complaints form
- Contact the BBC Trust
The BBC Trust is the governing body of the BBC. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers. The BBC Trust accepts complaints on issues such as editorial content, fair trading, television licensing, digital switchover and others. Complaints about editorial content are measured against the BBC’s editorial guidelines.
Advertising Standards Authority
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is the self-regulator for advertising across all media, including TV, internet, sales promotions and direct marketing. Although a self-regulator, the ASA works closely with Ofcom and has a statutory backstop in the Office of Fair Trading. The ASA considers whether adverts are ‘legal, decent, honest and truthful’ by measuring them against the Advertising Codes.
Association for Television On Demand
The Association for Television On Demand (ATVOD) is the independent co-regulator for the editorial content of UK video on demand services. Ofcom has only recently delegated certain functions to ATVOD.
Internet Watch Foundation
The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is an independent self-regulatory body, funded by the EU and the wider online industry, providing the UK internet Hotline for the public and IT professionals to report criminal online content in a secure and confidential way. They ‘help internet service providers and hosting companies to combat the abuse of their networks through our “notice and takedown” service which alerts them to content within our remit so they can remove it from their networks and provide unique data to law enforcement partners in the UK and abroad to assist investigations into the distributors’. The IWF acts on issues within its remit.
