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IPSO press complaints
A potential alternative to defamation claim, is a complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Most, but not all, national newspapers – as well as various other publications – have signed up to be regulated by IPSO (the full list the can be found here). The list includes The Daily Mirror, the Daily Express, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Daily Mail, and The Sun. The list does not include The Guardian or The Independent.
Participating publications have signed up to the Editors’ Code of Practice. The Code seeks to impose a minimum standard of conduct on the participating publications. These standards cover the following aspects of publication and news-gathering:
- Accuracy
- Privacy
- Harassment
- Intrusion into grief or shock
- Reporting Suicide
- Children
- Children in sex cases
- Hospitals
- Reporting of Crime
- Clandestine devices and subterfuge
- Victims of sexual assault
- Discrimination
- Financial journalism
- Confidential sources
- Witness payments in criminal trials
- Payments to criminals
Breaches of the code
If a participating publication breaches the Code then a complaint can be made to IPSO. Complaints must normally be made within four months of the publication or conduct complained of. This deadline may be extended where material remains accessible on a newspaper’s website.
Mediation or Adjudication
If appropriate, IPSO may seek to mediate a claim in the hope that the parties can agree an informal resolution (e.g. an agreed correction, clarification or apology or the removal of content). If this is not possible then the matter will be adjudicated on by IPSO’s Complaints Committee. The Committee will determine whether there has been a breach of the Code. It will publish its decision on its website setting out whether the Editors’ Code has been breached, and why. It may also require the publication to publish a copy of its findings in a manner determined by the Committee.
IPSO aims to process the majority of complaints within 90 days.
How we can help make an IPSO Press complaint
If you decide to make a complaint to IPSO we will advise you on and guide you through the process. We can draft the relevant written submissions and liaise with IPSO and the publisher on your behalf. Whilst there is no requirement to use solicitors, we can help ensure that your complaint is focused on the relevant factual and legal issues and that it is presented in a way that does it justice, giving it the best chance of succeeding. This particularly important where there is no oral hearing and decisions are based entirely on written submissions.
If you have suffered at the hands of the press a complaint to IPSO can lead to a prompt and cost-effective resolution. For example, if a clarification is published or content is removed from a website this may result in a victim of press abuse obtaining adequate vindication or sufficiently limiting the damage caused. However, a complaint to IPSO will not always be the most appropriate route. In some instances, it may make more sense to pursue a traditional claim for defamation, privacy or harassment or invite the publisher to arbitration (e.g. where compensation is sought).
In most instances we offer fixed-fee preliminary consultations in order to assist you in deciding how best to proceed with your complaint.
Related Services
- defamation
- Defamed by the press
- Defamed on social media
- Defamed on television, radio or podcasts
- Defamed on X/Twitter – Twibel
- Defamed on TikTok
- Wrongly circulated as wanted by the media or on social media
- Defending a defamation claim
- IPSO arbitration procedure
- Responding to a request for comment by the media
- Inaccurate information on due diligence databases
- Privacy, Harassment and Defamation Injunctions
- Defamed on Facebook
- Defamed on YouTube
Recent Reported Cases
How do I instruct Brett Wilson?
The first step is to attend a preliminary consultation. At the consultation we will advise you on the strength of your case, talk through the relevant practical and legal issues, and set out your options. We will review relevant documentation ahead of the consultation. The consultation will help you understand your position and allow you to make an informed decision about what action to take.
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Consultations take place in our London offices or by Teams/Zoom/telephone. We can also travel to you.
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To request a consultation please send us an email, complete our online enquiry form or call us on 020 7183 8950.
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Details of the cost of a consultation will be provided following your enquiry.
We regret that we are unable to review your case, consider papers or provide advice prior to a consultation or without being formally instructed. We do not offer alternative funding arrangements.
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