In this policy brief, published in conjunction with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Lara Fielden examines the three key qualities Lord Justice Leveson recommended for future press regulation – that it is  ‘voluntary’, ‘independent’, and ‘self-regulatory’. These characteristics, which form the basis of the government’s draft Royal Charter, are explored within the instructive context of differing approaches to press regulation in a range of democracies overseas.

The author finds that any blurring of the boundaries between standards upheld by a code and rights upheld by the law will be a significant departure from regulatory systems elsewhere, but acknowledges that publicly recognizing and independently safeguarding voluntary ethical press standards represents a huge step forward in placing the public interest at the heart of regulation.