'No need for Scottish media watchdog'

THE chair of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has opposed the idea creating a separate media watchdog for Scotland.

Barrister Peta Buscombe, who is in Scotland to speak to politicians and members of the media at Holyrood on Wednesday, said a Scottish version of the PCC could create a two-tier system in which complaints against the Scottish media could slip through the net.

"The idea that you create some sort of artificial boundary in the global environment we exist in now is fraught with danger," she said. "It's very important the consumer feels confident that there is a consistent line in terms of press standards and a clear code of practice that applies to all media and press across the UK.

"Devolution, in some ways, is a good thing. But when it comes to the legislature, some things fall between stools because people don't actually know where they should be going."

The issue has been raised a number of times since the creation of the Scottish parliament, with the now-defunct Scottish Civic Forum and Tommy Sheridan among its supporters.

But Buscombe added that she did not believe a watchdog for Scotland would improve media transparency for Scottish readers. "I'm just not sure what role it would play," she added. "It doesn't take on a particular flavour because of geographical boundaries, whether it's English Welsh or Scottish - if it's dealing with a difficult issue, that shouldn't be different wherever you are."