Future of Wakeham on press watchdog in balance

The body that funds and oversees the Press Complaints Commission will meet today amid calls for reform of the regulatory body.

The meeting of Pressbof (Press Standards Board of Finance Ltd) will consider the decision by Lord Wakeham to step down temporarily from the PCC chairmanship because of his involvement in the Enron investigations.

Professor Robert Pinker, a respected academic, has been appointed acting chairman. But it is believed that the newspaper managing directors and other senior executives who constitute Pressbof could decide that it is unrealistic for Lord Wakeham's long absence to be temporary. The search may begin for a new chairman.

A number of broadsheet editors have expressed concern at the present state of the PCC and have warned against it being too close to tabloid editors and to the Royal Family.

The Institute of Public Policy Research said yesterday that "the need for reform of self-regulation of the press is undeniable. In the 10 years since it was set up, the PCC has achieved a great deal, but continues to be criticised for an over-close relationship with editors, and for a lack of any clear sanctions."