Tags
2011, ACP, Australian Media, Australian Press Council, Chris Nash, Fairfax, Media Inquiry, News Limited, Print Media, self-regulation
Will the Federal Media Inquiry strengthen the Australian Press Council to better tackle unethical and irresponsible practices by Australian print-media?
The current Australian Press Council’s powers are sought to be strengthened under the Federal Government’s Media Inquiry in support of tougher regulation following Britain’s News of the World phone-hacking scandal.
With the lack of financial support from the Federal Government and left to private media organisations as to whether or not it is funded, the APC’s un-compulsory adjudications are unable to properly combat bias or disputable statements in publications.
Monash University Head of Journalism, Professor Chris Nash, says that punitive action undertaken by the Council is weak and ineffective. “It’s been a toothless tiger for years – decades,” he said.
“It is absolutely useless as it currently is.”
The APC seeks the bolstering of enforcing sanctions, especially for persistent breaches of the Standards of Practice, and the insistence on due prominence of apologies, corrections or other remedial action by publishers in response to complaints.
Chair of the Australian Press Council, Professor Julian Disney, further emphasised this. He says that “these improvements will not be achievable without substantial increases in the Council’s financial and staff resources… this includes support from non-media sources, including governments.”