IPSO on tour: supporting local journalism in the southwest

Over four days, we visited newsrooms, hosted workshops, and discussed the landscape of local journalism — hearing directly from those working at the heart of their communities.

Our first stop was in Plymouth, where Chairman Lord Faulks, Head of Standards and Regulation Rosemary Douce, Head of Complaints Emily Houlston-Jones and Engagement Officer Elena Richards Coldicutt met Reach plc staff from The Western Morning News, Cornwall Live, Plymouth Live and The Herald.

We explored a wide range of issues, including court reporting, user-generated comments, the IPSO complaints process, and the evolving balance between print and online journalism.

Charlie Elder, Editor of the Western Morning News, the regional daily newspaper for the Westcountry, said the meeting had provided an invaluable forum for senior editorial staff who attended. 

He said: “The informative meeting provided an excellent opportunity to discuss key issues that we face on a day-to-day basis with the IPSO team – from reader complaints, the Editors’ Code of Practice and legal challenges to maintaining standards in a rapidly changing media environment.” 

Edd Moore, Audience and Content Director for Reach plc in the southwest said: 

“The regional media is at a pivotal moment in time. The journalism many of our brands produce reaches more people than ever before, yet the digital media landscape has arguably never been more challenging. It was great to discuss with IPSO the important role a trusted and regulated press plays in society and how we can work alongside each other to protect journalism for future generations.” 

In Launceston, we visited the tight-knit teams at Tindle Newspapers’ Cornish & Devon Post, The Voice and The Cornish Times. Their newsroom is at the very centre of  Launceston town, visible to locals who walk by. We spoke about the value of community-led journalism, public loyalty to local news and the general public’s understanding of what the press can report on.

Regional Editor for Tindle Newspapers Cornwall Ltd Zoë Uglow said: 

“It was a pleasure to welcome the IPSO team to our offices in Launceston, Cornwall.  

“IPSO play such a vital role in maintaining high professional standards in journalism so it was a great opportunity for our team to hear more about their work, how it relates to us as an organisation and what support they offer, whilst being able to highlight some of the difficulties local journalists face. 

The next day, in Falmouth, we met The Falmouth Packet team from Newsquest Media Group. Our conversations covered the Editors’ Code of Practice, the use of social media in reporting, and the sensitivities around covering coroners’ inquests and related issues. 

“We were delighted to welcome the team from IPSO to our office. We had a really interesting meeting, where we picked up some great tips for things to be aware of and watch out for, as well as some reassurances that we were doing the right things.

“It was also great to see that IPSO are not a scary faceless body, but really approachable people who are there to help, not tell you off!” said Emma Ferguson, from the Falmouth Packet.

That afternoon, we were welcomed by students at Falmouth University, where we delivered a practical workshop on IPSO’s Complaints Committee. It was an engaging session, giving students insight into the role of regulation, how to apply the Editors’ Code of Practice and how decisions are made by the Complaints Committee.

Andy Chatfield, Lecturer at Falmouth University: 

“It is so valuable for media students to meet and interact with working journalists, and the same goes for meeting the regulators. It is one thing to study the Editors’ Code in regular classes but the workshop run by three IPSO staff on our campus put a face to those who apply it every day and provided a great opportunity to discuss the subtle challenges of interpreting its clauses boldly but safely.”

We concluded the tour in Exeter at SPANC25 — the Student Publication Association’s National Conference — where a workshop for student journalists from across the UK sparked lively discussions about editorial judgement, complaint handling and ethics in UK journalism.

The association’s chair, Jack Walsh, said:

”The SPA was thrilled to have IPSO at our 2025 national conference to host an interactive session where delegates were able to step into the shoes of the press regulator’s complaint committee and analyse a high-profile case, weigh up key arguments, and decide whether a major newspaper crossed the line.

“Providing our student members with hands-on training is what the national conference is all about, so the SPA is grateful to IPSO for attending and engaging with the journalists of tomorrow.”

From city-based and small-town titles to student publications, the visit gave us a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in regional journalism in 2025. Thank you to all who hosted us and contributed so thoughtfully.