Satisfaction Guaranteed? Press complaints procedures under scrutiny, edited by Rich Cookson and Mike Jempson (ISBN 0-9547620-1-0), was launched at the Frontline Club on Tuesday 22 June 2004.

The study concludes that Press Complaints Commission (PCC) procedures and the newspaper industry’s Code of Practice are in need of a thorough overhaul. In his introduction Sir Louis Blom-Cooper, the last chair of the Press Council, supports calls by leading journalists for a fourth Royal Commission on the press.

The study also contains a scathing analysis by Professor Julian Petley of how the PCC has handled various complaints – including one of his own; a detailed account of the PCC’s response to a complaint about The Sun’s infamous ‘Swan Bake’ allegations against asylum-seekers; and reviews of other complaints procedures including the BBC and Ofcom.

MediaWise is grateful to The Camden Trust for contributing to the cost of the survey and this report.

Chapters include:

Time to look again at the role of the press and its regulation – MediaWise Chair Sir Louis Blom-Cooper calls for a fourth Royal Commission.

Time for a culture change – Mike Jempson perks up PCC procedures and the Code of Practice.

The full report is available from MediaWise for £5. Please email us at info@mediawise.org.uk if you would like to order a copy.