Eversheds International

Reputation Management

Introduction
Areas of expertise:

What others say

Media codes

How we can help

The UK media is subject to regulatory codes which set out an important series of principles which we use to help clients protect their reputations.

The Ofcom Code applies to all broadcasters. If you are being interviewed or are otherwise participating in a broadcast the code has a series of rules designed to ensure that you are treated fairly.

Both the Ofcom Code and the PCC Code (which applies to all newspapers and most magazines) require the publication/broadcast of corrections where factual mistakes have been made.

The BBC has its own internal code (the Producers Guidelines) which sets out very detailed rules concerning the editorial process.

We help you to use the codes to ensure that you are treated fairly before publication/broadcast, and as a tool to deter the publication of critical material. We also sometimes recommend and advise on the use of the relatively quick and cheap complaints procedures in the codes after the event, which clients sometimes find an attractive alternative to litigation.

We acted on the very first complaint to Ofcom under its Code for Novartis AG - the decision remains the leading case on fairness issues. We also advise on the most effective ways of bringing PCC complaints to a satisfactory resolution.