About the Australian Press Council
The Australian Press Council Incorporated is the self-regulatory body of the print media. It was established in 1976 by the print media industry, with no government involvement, and has two main aims:
- to ensure that the free press acts responsibly and ethically and
- to help preserve the traditional freedom of the press within Australia.
To carry out its former function, it serves as a forum to which anyone may take a complaint concerning questions of editorial ethics (but not about advertising or the commercial operations) in the press. It settles over half of all such complaints by conciliation.
In its attempts to preserve the freedom of the press, which is in essence the freedom of the people to be informed, it keeps a watching brief on developments that might impinge on such freedoms and makes representations to governments, parliaments, the courts and other relevant bodies.
The Council is funded by the newspaper and magazine industries, although it is independent from interference from its constituent bodies, and its authority rests on the willingness of publishers and editors to respect the Council's views, to adhere voluntarily to ethical standards and to admit mistakes publicly.
The Council consists of 22 members, representing the publishers, journalists and members of the public, and is chaired by an independent Chairman. It meets every six weeks, usually in Sydney, where it maintains a small office, headed by the Executive Secretary. One of the main items on the agenda at each meeting is the consideration and adjudication of any complaints referred to it.
The Council is an incorporated association that has the power to amend its own Constitution, with the approval of the constituent bodies. It has wide powers to determine and vary its internal structures and procedures.
Further information on the Council can be found at www.presscouncil.org.au