Press Regulator Condemns Behaviour of News Group Newspapers

Published on: 22 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 22 Jan, 2025

Prince Harry

Impress, the press regulator for The Guildford Dragon NEWS and over 200 other news publications, has criticised the behaviour of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

The condemnation comes in the wake of today’s announcement that, following 24 hours of last-ditch “intense” negotiations, the Duke of Sussex accepted a “full and unequivocal apology” from NGN for unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun.

In a statement issued to its members Impress said: “How can the public trust an industry where invasions of privacy and coverups remain commonplace?

“Having previously attempted to deny and deflect any wrongdoing, News Group Newspapers have now admitted to serious intrusion, phone hacking, misuse of private information and unlawful activities carried out by private investigators for the Sun and the News of the World against Prince Harry.

“It is incredibly disheartening that, during a period when The Sun and NGN could have carried out in-depth reviews and implemented changes to ethical practices of their journalists, they chose to litigate instead.

“Prince Harry is in the privileged position of being able to afford to take a media giant like NGN to court and get an apology. The vast majority of the public, however, in a similar position would have been financially ruined by taking a similar course of action.

“This can no longer be dismissed as being the case of a few bad apples; self-regulation of the press has failed. Effective and truly independent regulation is the only way to stop these unethical practises which have been commonplace across the industry.

“Impress holds its publishers to the highest standards in journalism and provides accessible avenues to justice for all. Without rigorous and transparent accountability, the world of journalism risks surrendering public trust forever.”