Press regulation in the United Kingdom in a changed media ecosystem

The purpose of this chapter is not to rehearse the arguments that have already been made about the state of UK press regulation in respect of the institutional press. Rather in this chapter I consider press regulation within the context of the media ecosystem that has been created by the internet. To this end the chapter begins with a discussion on the concept of press freedom. In setting out its justifications and its normative bases I consider how it protects the press, and what is expected of the press in return for this protection. In essence, I suggest that the press is not fulfilling its side of the bargain, which has contributed to press malfeasance and the need for effective regulation. The problem, I go on to say, is that the current regulatory regime is not satisfactory for the institutional press, let alone independent and citizen journalism. Although the problems I identify in this chapter are perhaps obvious, I recognise that a solution is not. I suggest that although a mandatory regime may work for the institutional press, it is not suitable for citizen journalists. Bearing this, and the deficiencies of the current voluntary self-regulatory regime in mind, I advance an alternative and over-hauled voluntary self-regulatory scheme may provide some of the answers