What can you find in a publisher Annual Statement?

Every year, the publishers regulated by IPSO are required to share a document called an Annual Statement. This tells us all about the year the publisher and its titles have had and gives insight into their practices. This offers us (and you) a real behind-the-scenes look at how publications work. 

Far from being a tick-box exercise, these statements are one of the best ways to learn what’s really going on inside UK newsrooms – how journalism is produced, how editorial standards are upheld, and how publishers respond when things go wrong. 

What’s in an Annual Statement? 

• A list of the titles a publisher produces – This helps show the full scope of their work, from print to digital. 

• Key contacts and company background – This includes who we call the ‘responsible person’, the individual responsible for IPSO matters and correspondence, and a short overview of the company: its history, where they operate, how large they are, and what kind of journalism they produce. 

• Internal guidance for journalists – These are the manuals, codes or handbooks used by editorial teams to support responsible reporting. 

• How they handle complaints and train staff – This shows how they maintain high standards and respond to IPSO complaints.  

Why should you care? 

These statements are more than just regulatory paperwork. They’re a chance to: 

• Get a clearer picture of different publishers – Especially smaller or regional ones you might not hear about often. 

• See how journalism works behind the scenes – From ethical decision-making to newsroom culture and staff development. 

• Understand how publishers deal with complaints – Including what steps they take if IPSO finds a breach of the Editors’ Code to prevent a repeat occurrence. 

They also help IPSO monitor trends, identify challenges, and assess how well publishers are meeting their obligations. 

“Writing our first annual statement was an interesting and useful exercise. We looked at examples from other publishers and not only were those a great help to us in compiling our statement, it pointed up areas we needed to address, such as our complaints policy, which we developed and firmed up as a result of the process, as well as displaying the Editors’ Code more clearly for all in the office to see.  

“It was also a good exercise to be able to reflect on our past year, some of the notable stories we covered and the initiatives we implemented. I’m very happy for our contributors’ handbook to be publicly available online as I think small independent publishers need to share resources like this as much as they can, and it’s really interesting to see how others approach things.” 

Sam Hawcroft, Editor, Holderness and Hornsea Gazette 

“Annual statements provide an excellent opportunity for editors and publishers to reflect on the measures they have in place to ensure they have a robust complaints procedure and that their reporters have a clear understanding of their ethical responsibilities.  

“It reassures the public of how seriously we take the Editors’ Code and promotes accountability and transparency about our editorial standards and how we handle complaints.” 

James Preston, Print and Digital Editor, Baylis Community Media CIC 

A place to learn and reflect 

IPSO regulates a wide variety of publishers – from national newspapers to one-person blogs and local outlets, consumer magazines to digital-only platforms. Each one operates differently, and the annual statements reflect that. 

Understanding how your news is made is part of media literacy – and these statements offer a unique way to stay informed. They’re also a reminder that publishers are accountable not just to IPSO, but to you, the reader. 

If you’re curious about how journalism is done, how standards are upheld, or how publishers are responding to public concerns, these statements are a great place to start. All annual statements are published on our website and free for anyone to explore. Whether you’re interested in journalism, media ethics, or just want to know more about your favourite publication, they’re well worth a look. 

Explore them for yourself – and see what your newspaper has been up to. Read 2024’s Annual Statements here.