IPSO - Independent Press Standards Organisation

IPSO, independent regulator of the British press

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the independent regulator for the UK digital and print news industry. Its role is to uphold high editorial standards in order to protect the public and freedom of expression. It describes itself as a self-regulator funded by member publishers, but which carries out its work separately and completely independently of them.

IPSO is funded through the Regulatory Funding Company (RFC), which in turn receives funds from member publishers. The organisation agrees five-year budgets with the RFC, which provides it with certainty over its income and guarantees its freedom from control or influence. Both its Board and its Complaints Committee have independent majorities with no links to the newspaper and magazine industry; the remaining members bring recent experience in the sector and none is an active editor of publications regulated by IPSO.

Complaints and dispute resolution

IPSO handles complaints about the newspapers, magazines and digital news sites that it regulates. Complaints are assessed under the Editors' Code of Practice, the regulatory framework that the organisation applies to the print and digital press. Rulings and resolution statements are published on its website; recent examples include cases relating to the Code's clauses on accuracy, privacy and victims of sexual assault.

The organisation also has an arbitration scheme, whose rules are set out in the Arbitration Scheme Rules 2018, aimed at resolving disputes. It also offers a harassment service to deal with situations of harassment by journalists.

Services for journalists and editors

IPSO provides training, guidance and confidential support for journalists, as well as information and advice for the public. Its services include monitoring and a whistleblowing service for professionals who feel pressured to act against the Editors' Code. For media professionals, the organisation maintains an emergency advice line available outside office hours, intended for cases of harassment by a journalist or for pre-publication advice.

Transparency and governance

IPSO is not a public body and is not subject to freedom of information (FOI) law, although it is committed to being transparent and to responding to enquiries whenever possible and appropriate. Complaints about IPSO itself that fall outside the complaints review process should be addressed in writing to its chief executive. The organisation publishes key documents such as the Editors' Code, its strategy, the arbitration scheme rules, its 2024 regulations and its articles of association.

IPSO is a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales with number 02538908. Its staff includes a communications officer post and it has announced the appointment of solicitor and adjudicator Sarah Hamilton as its independent complaints reviewer.