Royal Commission on the Press (1961-1962): Evidence and Papers

HO 252

1961-1962

Minutes of meetings, files of evidence, and accounts and papers concerning the financial and economic affairs of companies engaged in the production and sale of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals in the United Kingdom.

Public Record(s)

English

276 files and cards

The second Royal Commission on the Press was appointed by Royal Warrant on 4 March 1961 under the chairmanship of Lord Shawcross "to examine the economic and financial factors affecting the production and sale of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals in the United Kingdom, including (a) manufacturing, printing, distribution and other costs, (b) efficiency of production, and (c) advertising and other revenue, including any revenue derived from interests in television; to consider whether these factors tend to diminish diversity of ownership and control or the number or variety of such publications, having regard to the importance, in the public interest, of the accurate presentation of news and the free expression of opinion." Unlike the first Royal Commission on the Press, this Commission was not to be concerned with the performance of the Press or general ethical questions.

The final report of the Commission (Cmnd 1811) was presented to Parliament on 5 September 1962, and the minutes of oral and written evidence were published as Command Papers 1812 and 1812-1 to 1812-9.