The independent press regulator, Impress, has announced that it will be launching an alternative dispute resolution service that is available to everyone “in an effort to redress the power imbalance caused by the cost of the British court system”.

Until now, Impress’ dispute resolution services have only been available to those who had signed up to the Impress regulatory scheme. However, the press release confirms that now they will be available to “all members of the public, as well as other organisations”.

Commenting on the announcement, Impress Chief Executive Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana said that “Ordinary people are effectively powerless if they are unfairly targeted by a well-resourced platform or media group while independent journalists and smaller publishers also have no option but to cave in when met with a legal threat from those in positions of power designed to intimidate and silence them. Now, thanks to Impress Alternative Dispute Resolution, everyone can get affordable and binding resolutions, leaving the press free to hold power to account and the public safe in the knowledge that they can access justice when they are wronged.”

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