JOURNALISTS welcomed the launch yesterday of a new scheme allowing members of the public to bring a claim against a newspaper without the expense of going to court.

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) introduced the arbitration scheme following the recommendations of the Leveson inquiry into the culture and ethics of the British press.

It aims to provide a “cost-effective” dispute resolution service for legal complaints against participating publications.

The scheme will cover claims for libel, slander, misuse of private information, breach of confidence, malicious falsehood, harassment and data protection.

The publications taking part include the Daily Mirror, the Sun, the Times, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express, the Daily Star and the Daily Telegraph, along with the Press Association news agency and Conde Nast UK magazines.

Ipso chief executive Matt Tee said the scheme was “Leveson-compliant” and would provide access to justice for those who cannot afford to go to court.

“The new Ipso scheme means that anyone can bring a claim against a newspaper for a fee of £50,” he said.

Members of the public who represent themselves in claims are protected from paying large legal costs under the scheme, even if they lose their case.

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Michelle Stanistreet welcomed the scheme, but she warned that only time would show whether the scheme was fit for purpose and would deliver real justice for members of the public.

“The NUJ has consistently expressed support for a new system of fair arbitration to consider unresolved issues between the press and public where individuals believe that the editor’s code has been breached. 

“However, it remains unclear which Ipso route for redress — the arbitration scheme or the separate complaints process — will be used in what type of circumstances,” she said.