The Role of the Media Regulatory and Self-regulatory Bodies in Maintaining Standards of Journalism in the United Kingdom
Choose format
RIS BIB ENDNOTEPublication date: 2025
Media Management, 2025, Vol. 13, Issue 1, pp. 17-31
https://doi.org/10.4467/23540214ZM.25.003.21917Authors
The UK’s media regulation and self-regulation system has evolved over the past 70 years, with major reforms in the last two decades. Since 2003, Ofcom has served as the primary regulator of electronic media, overseeing journalistic standards and ethics. In 2017, its authority expanded to include the BBC. The press sector, following ethical scandals, adopted a self-regulation model led by Impress and IPSO. This article examines the UK’s regulatory framework, assessing its structure, procedures, and effectiveness. It analyzes audience complaints, explores regulatory challenges, and includes insights from literature reviews, institutional reports, and interviews with professionals from Ofcom, IPSO, and the BBC. Although focused on the UK, this study contributes to discussions on media regulation in Poland, where systemic reforms are needed. The analysis highlights the strengths and limitations of the British model, offering insights for broader media governance debates.
A Free and Responsible Press: Report of the Commission on Freedom of the Press (1947). Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Barnett S., Petley J. (2021). “Why Ofcom must find its backbone”. British Journalism Review, 32 (1), pp. 29–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474821993342.
BBC (2003, December 29). “‘Super-regulator’ Ofcom launches”. BBC News. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3354093.stm.
BBC (2016, October 25). “First official UK press regulator, Impress, approved”. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37758497.
Bertrand C.-J. (2000). Media Ethics & Accountability Systems. London, UK: Transaction Publishers.
Bredow H. Institute for Media Research et al. (2014, March 4). INDIREG. Indicators for Independence and Efficient Functioning of Audiovisual Media Services Regulatory Bodies for the Purpose of Enforcing the Rules in the AVMS Directive. European Commission.
Available at: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/study-indicators-independence-and-efficient-functioning-audiovisual-media-services-regulatory.
Czapnik S. (2013). “Komisja Levesona a polskie prawo prasowe”. Available at: https://pl.ejo-online.eu/etyka-dziennikarska/komisja-levesona-polskie-prawo-prasowe.
Dobek-Ostrowska B. (2007) (ed.). Media masowe na świecie. Modele systemów medialnych i ich dynamika rozwojowa. Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego.
Fengler S., Eberwein T., Karmasin M. (eds.) (2022). The Global Handbook of Media Accountability. New York, NY: Routledge.
Filek T. (eds.) (2004). Filozofia odpowiedzialności XX wieku. Teksty źródłowe. Krakow: Znak.
Frost C. (2004). “The press complaints commission: a study of ten years of adjudications on press complaints”. Journalism Studies, 5 (1), pp. 101–114.
Hallin D.C., Mancini P. (2004). Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hodges L. (2004). “Accountability in Journalism”. Journal of Mass Media Ethics, 19 (3–4), pp. 166–190.
Impress (2023). Impress Annual Report 2022–2023. Available at: https://www.impressorg.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Impress-Annual-Report-22-23.pdf.
Ingarden R. (2004). “Ontyczne podstawy odpowiedzialności”. In: T. Filek (ed.), Filozofia odpowiedzialności XX wieku. Teksty źródłowe (pp. 85–108). Krakow: Znak.
IPSO (2023). IPSO Annual Report 2022. Available at: https://www.ipso.co.uk/media/2434/ipso-report-2022-final-digital1lr.pdf.
Konarska K. (2018). “Zmiany w brytyjskim systemie regulacji mediow publicznych – BBC pod nadzorem Ofcomu”. In: K. Konarska, A. Lewicki, P. Urbaniak (eds.), Z teorii i praktyki komunikacji społecznej. Stan i rozwój badań w Polsce (pp. 391–410). Krakow: Jagiellonian University Press.
Krogh T. von (ed.) (2008). Media Accountability Today... and Tomorrow: Updating the Concept in Theory and Practice. Goteborg: Nordicom.
Krogh T. von. (2008). “Media Accountability. A 60-year-old Compromise that Still Holds Promise for the Future”. In: T. von Krogh (ed.), Media Accountability Today... and Tomorrow: Updating the Concept in Theory and Practice (pp. 15–32). Goteborg: Nordicom.
Ociepka B., Ratajczak M. (2000). Media i komunikowanie polityczne. Niemcy, Austria, Szwajcaria. Wrocław: Arboretum.
Ofcom (n.d.). Broadcast and On-Demand Bulletin. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/broadcast-bulletins/.
Ofcom (n.d.). The Ofcom Broadcasting Code. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radioand-on-demand/broadcast-codes/broadcast-code.
Ofcom (2021). Section Seven: Fairness. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-andon-demand/broadcast-standards/section-seven-fairness/.
Ofcom (2021a). Section Five: Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/section-five-due-impartiality-accuracy/.
Ofcom (2022). “Ofcom revokes RT’s broadcast licence”. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/ofcom-revokes-rt-broadcast-licence/.
Ofcom (2023). Annual Report and Accounts 2022–2023: For the Period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/264136/22-23-annual-report.pdf.
Ofcom (2024). Section Six: Elections and Referendums. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand/broadcast-standards/section-six-elections-referendums/.
Ofcom (2024a). Annual Report and Accounts 2023–2024: For the Period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/how-ofcom-is-run/annual-reports/plans-and-financial-reporting/annual-reports/annual-report-2023-24/ofcom-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024.pdf?v=384868.
Office of Public Sector Information (n.d.). Office of Communications Act 2002. Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/11/contents.
Purvis S., Banatvala C. (2024). “Ofcom’s approach to GB News will dilute trust in media – just when we need it most”. The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/13/ofcom-gb-news-media-regulator.
Ramsay G. (2022). “The United Kingdom. Consolidation and fragmentation”. In: S. Fengler, T. Eberwein, M. Karmasin (eds.), The Global Handbook of Media Accountability. London: Routledge.
Sendall B. (1982). Independent Television in Britain: Volume 1: Origin and Foundation 1946–62. London: Macmillan Press.
Siebert F., Peterson T., Schramm W. (1956). Four Theories of the Press. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Słupek L. (2004). “Rynek mediow w Wielkiej Brytanii. Wybrane zagadnienia”. In: A. Hess, T. Sasińska-Klas (eds.), Media a integracja europejska (pp. 33–51). Krakow: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego.
Trybulski Ł. (2014). “Finał afery podsłuchowej w Wielkiej Brytanii. Redaktor naczelny “News of the World” Andy Coulson skazany”. naTemat. Available at: https://natemat.pl/107499,-final-afery-podsluchowej-w-wielkiej-brytanii-redaktor-naczelny-news-of-the-world-andy-coulson-skazany.
Information: Media Management, 2025, Vol. 13, Issue 1, pp. 17-31
Article type: Original article
Uniwersytet SWPS
Published at: 2025
Article status: Open
Licence: CC BY 4.0
Percentage share of authors:
Classification number:
Article corrections:
-Publication languages:
EnglishView count: 492
Number of downloads: 942