The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) has recruited a panel to advise on its work and wider industry issues from the perspective of readers.
The six-strong readers’ advisory panel will provide Ipso with an external view on a range of topics, such as the editors’ code of practice and the regulator’s audit.
It will also act as a focal point for the public, or representative groups, to feed back their experiences of Ipso.
One name among the panellists, Tom Rowland, may well raise eyebrows at the press victims’ body, Hacked Off. He was regarded as one of its former activists and was a core participant at the Leveson inquiry.
Rowland, who spent 10 years as a journalist with the Daily Telegraph and later moved into TV production, gave evidence to the inquiry because his phone was hacked by a News of the World reporter.
In his measured statement to the inquiry, he said the former regulator, the Press Complaints Commission, had offered “reasonable protection to journalists writing legitimate stories who are frequently forced to fight misconceived complaints.”
Joining Rowland on the panel are Connie Henry, a former senior private sector manager; academic Dr Kate Sang; Michael Curran, who works in PR; solictor Nabila Zulfiqar who has experience of regulation and governance; and Samantha McFarlane, a marketing agency owner and charity trustee.
None of the panellists are employed by a publisher that is, or even could be, regulated by Ipso.
Charlotte Urwin, Ipso’s head of standards, said: “I am delighted to welcome our panellists. Their input as readers will help inform Ipso’s important work around press standards and they will provide us with invaluable advice and expertise.”
In addition, Ipso has set up a journalists’ advisory panel to offer advice from the perspective of journalists. It is due to meet for the first time early in the new year. Its membership will be announced in January.