As England wrestles with the direction of press regulation and Canada studies the state of its press councils, the Columbia Journalism Review finds a success story in Scandinavia. There, complaints about the press seem to be handled with aplomb and applause.
The story focuses on the example of the mass murder last year in Norway and how the council dealt with complaints --- which in its case must be filed by a principal in the story, not a member of the public. But there are similar councils in Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
What it finds is that a strong council comprising journalists, editors and lay people compel the industry to take heed, change codes on occasion, and remain trusted by the public.
The story focuses on the example of the mass murder last year in Norway and how the council dealt with complaints --- which in its case must be filed by a principal in the story, not a member of the public. But there are similar councils in Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
What it finds is that a strong council comprising journalists, editors and lay people compel the industry to take heed, change codes on occasion, and remain trusted by the public.
