UK newspapers announce plan for press watchdog

Newspapers and magazines in the UK took the first steps today towards setting up a new press watchdog in the wake of the phone hacking scandal – and were immediately criticised by campaigners.

Plans for the creation of the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which will have the power to impose fines of up to £1 million and force editors to publish upfront corrections, will go out to consultation with publishers following Lord Justice Leveson’s call for a new regulator to be created.