Press Complaints in the UK – What You Need to Know

If you ever felt a newspaper or website crossed the line, you’re not alone. Millions of Brits file press complaints each year because they want accurate, fair reporting. Knowing the right steps can turn frustration into action and help keep the media honest.

How to Make a Complaint

The first stop is the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) for most daily papers, or the IMPRESS regulator for some online outlets. Head to their website, find the complaint form, and fill in the details: which story, what was wrong, and why it matters to you. Keep screenshots or PDFs handy – they make your case stronger.

After you submit, the regulator will check if the story is covered by their code of practice. If it is, they’ll ask the outlet for a response. You’ll get a copy of that reply, and the regulator decides whether the piece broke any rules. Most complaints are resolved within a few weeks, but complex cases can take longer.

Common Issues and What to Expect

People complain about bias, factual errors, invasion of privacy, and harmful language. Bias complaints are tricky because opinion pieces often have a slant, but if the slant disguises facts or misleads readers, regulators can step in. Fact errors are the easiest to prove – just show the correct data.

Privacy complaints usually involve photos or personal details published without consent. If the story isn’t of public interest, the regulator may order a correction or even a removal. Harmful language complaints focus on hate speech or content that could incite violence. Those get serious attention and can lead to fines for the publisher.

Don’t expect an instant apology. Most outlets first offer a correction or clarification. If they deny the complaint, you can appeal to the Press Complaints Commission’s higher panel or even take the issue to the courts, but that’s rare.

While filing a complaint might feel like a small step, it adds up. Regulators track trends and use the data to push newsrooms toward better standards. Your single complaint could influence future editorial policies.

If you’re unsure which regulator to use, check the newspaper’s imprint page – it always lists the relevant body. Some niche online sites fall outside IPSO and IMPRESS, so you may need to contact the publisher directly or use the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office for data‑privacy concerns.

Remember that the media landscape is changing fast. Social media platforms now host a lot of news, and many of them have their own complaint mechanisms. While they aren’t covered by IPSO, reporting harmful content to the platform can still stop misinformation from spreading.

Finally, keep an eye on the outcomes. Regulators publish quarterly reports that show how many complaints they handled, what types were most common, and any sanctions imposed. These reports are a good way to see if the press is getting better over time.

Whether you’re angry about a single article or want to improve the whole system, filing a press complaint is a practical tool. It’s simple, free, and gives you a voice in the conversation about media quality. So the next time a story feels off, don’t just scroll – take action.