Dear Candidate,
I am delighted that you might be interested in joining the Board of the Press Recognition Panel. This is an exciting and important role, acting independently in the public interest and no doubt under close external scrutiny, as part of the framework put in place following the Leveson Inquiry.
Our job includes deciding whether regulators set up by the press and news publishers, and which voluntarily seek recognition, meet and then continue to meet the requirements set out in the Royal Charter. That will help to secure the public interest in a free and vibrant press which acts in accordance with the lessons learned through the Leveson Inquiry. It will also allow news publishers to obtain the wider legal benefits of self-regulation by an approved regulator.
Our Board members are appointed by a process which is unique in its independence from Government, Parliament and other influences. We have a freedom from outside pressure not seen before or since in a public body. We act, and must be seen to act, with the utmost independence, including from Government, Parliament, the media and other potentially partisan interests. So, taken together, the past actions and past and present affiliations of the Board Members must not lead to any reasonable perception that the Board overall will not act entirely independently of any such interests.
As a team, we have created and overseen an entirely new and freestanding organisation able to discharge the functions given to us by the Royal Charter. We have recognised IMPRESS and we continue to oversee it. We have also overseen an increase in standards across the press landscape, in some areas. However, there is still more work to be done to ensure that the public is protected from harm in the way that was intended following the Leveson Inquiry.
During my tenure as Chair, I have strived with my Board to establish the Press Recognition Panel as an organisation, which, among other things, adopts the highest standards of good governance, which acts transparently and fairly, which consults widely, which takes its equality obligations seriously, and which is enjoyable to work for.
It is vital that the Board reflects the diversity of the whole community, including from groups or backgrounds which tend to be under-represented on bodies like this. The Board has proactively integrated this commitment into its operation and recruitment processes at every stage. The Board and I would welcome applications to enhance the organisation’s diversity to better reflect the society that we serve.
You will find further information about the organisation and the work we do on our website.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Best wishes,
Kathryn Cearns, PRP Chair