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In its 2023 Annual Report, IPSO sets out its efforts to raise editorial standards and protect the public and freedom of expression.
IPSO has published its 2023 Annual Report. The report provides an overview of the most important IPSO news in 2023 and includes a breakdown of complaints received. It also includes key case studies on complaints, including an article on erroneous share price data in the Times, IPSO added.
IPSO sets out how it continues its work to raise editorial standards, resolve complex complaints and protect the public and freedom of expression through its day-to-day work in its 2023 Annual Report. It includes new editorial standards guidance and information on reporting on sex and gender identity; reporting on suicide, sexual offences and deaths and inquests; as well as the new IPSO complaints database; the second biennial publishers’ consultation; accuracy in reporting; and dealing with complex complaints.
Charlotte Dewar, IPSO Chief Executive, said: “This review of 2023 underlines the extent to which our job of maintaining editorial standards is a collective effort, building on the work, ideas and insights of a huge number of people inside and outside IPSO. Individual complainants who notice something that concerns them and contact our complaints teams; people working in the civil service and government who refer people to our services; commentators and critics; our own staff, officers and advisory bodies; and many more – all of them help us to meet our important, difficult and often nuanced role. I am grateful to everyone who has contributed to our work in whatever way in 2023.”
Following Sir Bill Jeffrey’s external independent review of IPSO, the report provides further information on complainants’ feedback. There were 8,045 complaints in 2023. Each one was assessed and those that demonstrated a possible breach of the Editors’ Code of Practice (the framework IPSO uses to regulate the press) were followed up.
In 2023, 364 complaints were investigated, as Emily Houlston-Jones, joint head of complaints and pre-publication services, explains: “When we receive a complaint and it is a potential breach of the Editors’ Code, we work with the complainant and the publisher to try to resolve the dispute. In 2023, 160 complaints were resolved in this way. The Independent Complaints Committee is considering dozens more complaints. The outcome of this work is published on our website every week.”
“Many other complaints are not pursued by the complainant or fall outside his or her area of responsibility because there is no possible violation of the editorial code.”
The annual report highlights several notable complaints from the past year, including the interview with an experienced private investor who believed the share price return data presented in The Times was incorrect, IPSO added.
IPSO says Ken Hodgson had been concerned for several years about dividend yield data published by the newspaper, which he used to make his investment decisions. He complained to the Times and the major financial information company that supplied the figures, but to no avail. He complained to IPSO under clause 1 (accuracy) of the editorial code. The committee upheld the complaint and ordered the Times to publish a decision setting out the committee’s findings in the newspaper and on its website.
Engaging with regulated publishers and the public is a key part of the Standards and Regulation team’s work. In 2023, they conducted two key consultations: the second biennial Publishers Consultation, which provided valuable insights into areas where IPSO can further develop its work with journalists and editors, policy makers and other stakeholders to improve standards and accountability.
In 2023, practical, non-binding guidelines on reporting on sex and gender identity were published following an extensive public consultation on the complex and sensitive issues. The resulting guidelines are intended to support editorial decision-making, rather than dictate it.
The report quotes Rosemary Douce, Head of Standards and Regulation, reflecting on the consultation, which involved LGBT+ communities, journalists, academics, civil servants and many others:
“This process revealed the wide range of opinions and challenges in reporting on these issues. Our approach aimed to take into account widely held views and listen to people with different perspectives to make the guidelines as inclusive as possible.”
The full list of Board and Appeals Committee members is also included, as well as a list of publishers and titles regulated by IPSO in 2023.
The IPSO Annual Report is available to read or download from the IPSO website. Printed copies are available on request.
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