How Is The Alberta Press Council Funded?
The Alberta Press Council was formed at the initiative of Alberta Newspaper
publishers. Member newspapers each pay a share of the cost in proportion to
circulation. Although funded by newspapers, the Alberta Press Council is an
independent body with its own objectives and bylaws.
Who serves on the Alberta Press Council?
One public member is selected by the council from the circulation area of each
daily member newspaper and the publisher of each daily newspaper appoints one
staff member as a representative.
The Alberta weekly Newspapers Association appoints one press member from a
weekly newspaper and one public member is selected.
The chair is elected by the council from it's members.
About Us - Who Are We?
The Alberta Press Council was established in 1972 and is the oldest Press
Council in Canada.
The mandate of the Alberta Press Council is three-fold: 1) to adjudicate on
complaints against our print-media members; 2) to defend the established
freedoms of the press; and 3) in certain circumstances, speak out against
limitations on access to information.
The Council does not monitor its print media members. It is presumed that the
member newspapers are responsible bodies with their own codes of practice. The
Council may not tell any newspaper what it may or may not publish. To do so
would be to infringe upon the established freedoms of the press.
The Press Council is not a government body at any level but is a non-profit
organization which receives no government funding or grants for its operations.
All of the Council members volunteer time from their various occupations in
order to serve the Council.
The Council is comprised of a public member Chair, an Executive
Secretary-Treasurer plus eight public members and eight press members. Public
members are solicited by advertisement from the readers of the newspapers in the
area where a vacancy occurs. Press members are appointed by their newspapers.
Public members are appointed for an initial three year term and may be invited
to serve a second term at the discretion of the Press Council. The Chair is
selected by the Council from its members.
Alberta Press Council - Power Point Presentation
Objectives of the Alberta Press Council
To uphold the established freedom of the press.
To serve as a medium of understanding between the public and the press.
To encourage the highest ethical and professional standards of journalism.
To consider complaints about the conduct of the press in gathering and
publication of news, opinion and advertising.
To consider complaints about the conduct of individuals and organizations
toward the press.
To report publicly on all decisions taken on complaints.
To review and report on attempts to restrict access to information of public
interest.
To make representations to governments and other public bodies on matters
pertaining to the objectives of the Council.
To publish periodic reports on the work of the Council.
To encourage the print media to follow the Code Of Practice issued by the
Council.
How Can You Become Involved?
If you are interested in becoming a public member on the Alberta Press Council,
please view our PRESS RELEASE
page here on the website. We will be advertising for public members whenever a
position is available.
