IPSO Press Regulator release guide on how to report on Islam

Late in 2018 The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), who regulate most of the UK’s mainstream media including the Daily Express, the Daily Star and a selection of BBC programmes amongst others, formulated an informal working group that has drafted guidance for reporting on Islam and Muslims. According to its own website, this regulating body aims to make “sure that member newspapers and magazines follow the Editors’ Code”. Some may question the ethics behind the IPSO, seemingly attempting to control the narrative of journalism against the religion of Islam, which is essentially an ideology. 

The Policy Exchange report has slammed the IPSO draft guidance. They believe that anyone concerned about the free press should be alarmed by these guidelines. They are suggesting that the draft guidance goes in excess of inaccuracies which is the normal role of a press regulator. One section of the guidance sets things out for editors “A free press is responsive to many communities of readers and it is likely financially beneficial to the press to reach as wide a readership as possible. Producing accurate content which reflects the concerns of, and engages with, readers is key to reaching that broad readership.” Many may argue that the purpose of the press is to inform its readership as well as challenge their beliefs on occasion.

The editors who are regulated by IPSO will need to be “responsive” of communities, some of which helped to draft this guidance, as well as readerships entrenched beliefs and tastes. The guidance stops short of explicitly stating that editors need to be responsive of community’s provides a thinly masked description of its intentions. A further section that may alarm many is the section of guidance that warns of being mindful of “tensions between communities”. If this was applied universally across journalism, sports journalists would likely be prevented from reporting on thuggish racism and sectarian behaviour. These guidelines are being perceived as a further erosion of what was once a free press in the UK.   

THE Policy Exchange report states that the IPSO committee that drafted the report included individuals of concern. One was Miqdaad Versi of the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) as well as the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). Mr Versi described the Spectator Magazine as having an “abysmal track record” on Islamophobia. The MCB are often criticised as being a highly inflammatory organisation. Brendan O’Neill of the Spectator stated the MCB partake in describing “all sorts of perfectly legitimate commentary on Islam is collapsed under the headings ‘prejudice’ or ‘bigotry’ or ‘racism’”. It is difficult to argue against the denunciation that IPSO has been influenced directly by a small cross-section of society. 

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Oliver Down

Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!

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