The ever-changing news landscape, alongside the growth in digital tech, has resulted in a steady decline of public trust in news media. In 2022, Impress conducted extensive public research and we found that, “Public trust in the news media is split between those that trust it (49%) and those that distrust it (48%); the public hold even less trust in its practitioners, journalists, who are trusted by only 39% of the public.” In addition to this, the rise of AI, has given more space to misinformation, polarised isolation and the undermining of a shared reality. Poor ethical standards have become more entrenched in recent years as a failing economic model for news has led the industry to cut corners, prioritise clickbait and downplay the ethical challenges of publishing online.

There have always been concerns about the potential for partisanship and politicisation in press regulation. Impress, set up in 2015, has been subject to high levels of due scrutiny. That’s why we are proud to be the only press regulator that is recognised as independent and effective by the Press Recognition Panel, an independent non-government body established under the Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the Press. Additionally, Impress is currently funded through a charitable foundation, the Independent Press Regulation Trust, which operates independently from government, political organisations, and commercial interests. Through independent governance and oversight, and uncompromised funding, Impress demonstrates a meaningful commitment to transparency, accountability, and the public interest.

In the sports world, there is a special emphasis on the idea of ‘equal opportunity’ where efforts are made to create a fair and level playing field by eliminating advantages or disadvantages so everyone playing can enjoy the game. By promoting fairness, diversity, and accountability, Impress seeks to create an environment where all news providers, regardless of size or influence, have an equal opportunity to thrive and contribute to a dynamic media ecosystem. We work to bridge the gap between established media organisations and emerging platforms, empowering smaller news providers and giving them a voice. By providing a level playing field, Impress helps foster competition and innovation, making the news industry more bold, exciting and ready to face on the changes ahead.

Since the Leveson Inquiry over a decade ago, public and industry debate about the recommendations, the Royal Charter and its application to news organisations has been shelved. Meanwhile, discrimination, inaccuracy and intrusion are still rife throughout parts of the press. In 2023, we are all conscious that proactive and decisive measures are needed to ensure the press self-regulate in an effective way, building consensus with the public about what standards apply to newsgathering practices. Delaying action will only have harmful consequences for the industry and the wider society it serves. Making and accessing news today is marked by numerous challenges, including disinformation, fake news, declining trust, news alienation and ethical dilemmas with the advance of new technology. Impress acknowledges the need to confront these issues head-on, and will work to implement measures to mitigate the worst impacts, and safeguard the integrity of journalism. Our Standards Code, recently updated in 2023 to reflect the changing circumstances, provides the most relevant and up to date guidance to the media industry on how to tackle these issues.