Royal Commission on the Press facts for kids

Have you ever wondered how newspapers and magazines are kept fair and honest? In the United Kingdom, there were three special investigations called Royal Commissions on the Press during the 20th century. These commissions were like big government committees. They looked into how the news was made and shared.

The first commission (1947–49) suggested creating a group called the General Council of the Press. This group would help make sure newspapers acted responsibly. It would also look after what readers wanted and study how the news industry affected society. This idea led to the Press Council being set up in 1953. The second commission (1961–62) studied the money side of the press. The third (1974–77) suggested writing down a set of rules, or a Code of Practice, for newspapers to follow.

1947–49 Royal Commission

Why the Commission Started

The first Royal Commission on the Press began in 1947. People were worried that a few big companies owned too many newspapers. They thought this might stop people from sharing different ideas freely. There were also concerns that news wasn't always accurate. Some worried that advertisers might even influence what was printed.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is a group for journalists. They believed these changes were making journalism less good. In 1946, two NUJ members asked the House of Commons to start a royal commission. They thought this was the best way to investigate.

The House of Commons agreed to the NUJ's idea. They voted 270 to 157 in favor of the investigation. The members of the commission were chosen on April 14, 1947. Sir William David Ross was chosen as the chairman. He was a very respected scholar from the University of Oxford.

How the Commission Worked

The royal commission gathered information from many sources. They listened to 182 people who gave evidence. They also received answers to many questionnaires. The commission held 61 meetings. Their smaller groups held another 62 meetings.

During this time, 106 newspaper owners shared their views. Representatives from 432 newspapers and three news agencies also spoke. All this information was put into a 363-page report. Much of what was said was also published in other documents. The commission's records are now kept at the National Archives.

What the Commission Found

The first royal commission mainly looked at newspapers. They investigated claims that news was inaccurate or biased. The commission's report agreed that news presentation could be better. They also found that much reporting had a political bias. They were especially critical of newspaper owners. They felt owners often gave simple stories instead of helping readers learn more.

However, the commission did not think that the UK media was a monopoly. A monopoly is when one company controls everything. They also said that advertisers did not have too much power. Most importantly, they decided that the government should not control the press too much.

What the Commission Suggested

The main idea from the royal commission was for the news industry to regulate itself. They suggested creating a "General Council of the Press." This council would watch over irresponsible journalism. It would also help the press be free and respected. The commission said this was needed to "save the press from itself." This recommendation led to the Press Council being set up in 1953.

1961–62 Royal Commission

The second Royal Commission on the Press focused on money. It looked at how much it cost to make and sell newspapers and magazines. This included printing, distribution, and advertising. The commission wanted to see if these money factors were reducing the number of different newspapers available. They also considered if it affected the quality of news and free speech. This commission did not look at how the press performed or ethical questions.

The members of this commission were chosen on March 4, 1961. Lord Shawcross was the chairman. The commission's main records are also at the National Archives. Their final report was given to Parliament on September 5, 1962.

By the time of this commission, the Press Council had received a lot of criticism. The commission's report demanded improvements. They especially wanted the Press Council to include members who were not from the news industry.

1974–77 Royal Commission

The third Royal Commission on the Press began in May 1974. It looked into what kept newspapers independent and diverse. It also examined how to maintain good editorial standards. The commission also considered how to ensure the public had a wide choice of newspapers.

The members were chosen on July 16, 1974. Sir Morris Finer was first appointed chairman. After he passed away, Professor Oliver McGregor became chairman in March 1975. The main records for this commission are kept at the British Library of Political and Economic Science.

The commission's chairman suggested creating a written Code of Practice for newspapers. He felt the Press Council had not handled complaints against newspapers well enough. However, the Press Council rejected this idea. In 1980, the National Union of Journalists left the Press Council. They believed the council could not be improved.