In a welcome move for publishers, the UK government has announced plans to repeal Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which would have required them to pay all legal costs in court cases, regardless of the outcome. The decision was revealed in the King's Speech, with the government committing to legislation that will protect public interest journalism.
Section 40: A Threat to Publishers
Under Section 40, publishers would have been forced to cover the expenses of both sides in defamation and privacy cases if they did not join an approved regulator. The only regulator currently approved by the Press Recognition Panel is the Impress media body, which oversees 125 publishers. However, prominent publishers such as News UK, Daily Mail and General Trust, and Telegraph Media Group have chosen to join the voluntary funded Independent Press Standards Organisation.
Government's Commitment to Repeal
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has expressed her commitment to repealing Section 40. At a recent reception in Downing Street, she praised the media for their fearless reporting and their role in combating misinformation and holding individuals and organizations accountable.
Industry Support for Repeal
Government plans to repeal Section 40 have received backing from industry figures. Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors, argued that the section would have had a devastating impact on investigative journalism and placed excessive financial burdens on publishers. However, the Press Recognition Panel argues that the public is still at risk, as pursuing a court case remains financially out of reach for most individuals.
