We monitor the complaints we receive and wider concerns about press coverage of particular issues to identify themes in editorial standards. We use this to monitor trends and, where necessary, to take targeted action to address issues of concern in a proportionate way, ideally at an early stage. The ongoing monitoring of standards themes is vital to ensuring that IPSO remains aware of any potential issues and is able to respond appropriately.
In complaints monitoring, IPSO looks at a sample of all complaints closed in a particular quarter. The sample includes the following:
This sampling approach allows IPSO to gather a rich and robust body of evidence to help it to understand editorial standards. The sample is analysed and then reviewed by members of IPSO’s Liaison Committee, which brings together members of IPSO’s Board and Complaints Committee, and reports into IPSO’s Board. This means that some of the themes identified below relate to complaints where there was no decision on whether the complaint was a breach of the Code.
This information is currently published on a yearly basis in IPSO’s annual report, but for greater transparency, we will now be publishing excerpts from this analysis quarterly. The information will be presented on a broad thematic level to protect the confidentiality of the complaints process; for the same reason, reference to some complaints and/or issues may be withheld.
The tables below give a high-level indication of the issues we are currently reviewing. They are not intended to be exhaustive, for example, they may not reflect IPSO’s regular programme of interventions in relation to small-scale or one-off standards concerns.
July to September 2022
April to June 2022
January to March 2022
October to December 2021
July to September 2021
April to June 2021
January to March 2021
October to December 2020
July to September 2020
April to June 2020
January to March 2020
October to December 2019
July to September 2019
April to June 2019
January to April 2019
October to December 2018
June to September 2018
April to June 2018
January to April 2018