The Press Council's Ombudsman says there was a 70 percent increase over the last three years in the number of complaints about incorrect or unethical newspaper reports.
Speaking to editors at a meeting of the SA National Editors' Forum in Cape Town yesterday .. deputy Press Ombudsman Johan Retief said complaints grew from 150 in 2009 to 213 in 2010, and to 255 in 2011.
The newspaper industry's system of self-regulation on complaints via the Press Council and Ombudsman System has come under attack in recent years by the African National Congress, which maintains it does not work effectively and is toothless.
The party said the establishment of a statutory Media Appeals Tribunal should be investigated.
The newspaper industry has reacted by establishing the Press Freedom Commission of experts from a spectrum of society .. to investigate various models of press regulation and make recommendations by the end of March.
