Why doesn the PCC impose fines on newspapers and magazines?
In order to do this, the PCC would probably have to have statutory powers of enforcement, which would fundamentally change the nature of the system it oversees. Many of the existing benefits would be removed or reduced – it would become more legalistic, more confrontational and less flexible. But in any case, evidence from other countries suggests that where fines do exist (for example in France) editors risk publishing intrusive stories – and then paying the damages – because the increase in sales more than compensates for the cost of the fine. The system of critical adjudications available to the PCC is actually a much more powerful sanction.
