The Press Complaints Commission is charged with enforcing the following Code of Practice which was framed by the newspaper and periodical industry and ratified by the Press Complaints Commission in April 1994. All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards. In doing so, they should have regard to the provisions of this Code of Practice and to safeguarding the public's right to know.
Editors are responsible for the actions of journalists employed by their publications.
They should also satisfy themselves as far as possible that material accepted from non-staff members was obtained in accordance with this Code. The Code applies in the spirit as well as in the letter. It is the resposibility of editors to co-operate as swiftly as possible in PCC enquiries. Any publication which is criticised by the PCC under one of the following clauses is duty to print the adjudication which floows in full and with due prominence. Newspapers and periodicals should take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted material.