The Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman

Promoting excellence in Irish newspapers, magazines and online
publications.

Code of Practice

Learn about the 11 Principles members of print and online press must meet to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.

Make a Complaint

The Office of the Press Ombudsman considers complaints about articles published by member publications of the Press Council of Ireland within the last three months.

Member Publications

A complaint can be made about any print or online publication that is a member of the Press Council of Ireland.

A FREE AND INDEPENDENT SERVICE FOR RESOLVING COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PRESS

Welcome to the website of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman. Established in 2008, we consider complaints about newspapers (print and online), magazines and online-only news publications – view our full list of member publications. We also promote press freedom and the right to freedom of expression.

We are independent of government and the press.

The standards our members commit to can be found in the Code of Practice of the Press Council.

You can complain about articles, photos, headlines, cartoons, podcasts, audio or video content, and about journalistic behaviour. We can only consider complaints about publications that are members of the Press Council of Ireland.  We cannot consider complaints about broadcasting, advertising, defamation or copyright. We can consider complaints about social media posts on platforms like Facebook or Twitter only if the account is operated by a member publication of the Press Council.

Decisions of the Press Ombudsman

Appeals to the Press Council

Decisions on Referral to the Press Council

Office of the Press Ombudsman

The Office of the Press Ombudsman receives complaints from members of the public and seeks to resolve them by conciliation or mediation to the satisfaction of everyone concerned.  Where conciliation or mediation is not possible, the Press Ombudsman will make a decision on the complaint based on the Code of Practice

Press Council of Ireland

The Press Council of Ireland is responsible for the oversight of the professional principles embodies in the Code of Practice, and with upholding the freedom of the press.  It operates with the support and cooperation of member publications and journalists.  It decides on appeals from decisions of the Press Ombudsman and on complaints referred to it directly by the Press Ombudsman. It is independent of both government and media.

Recent Decisions

OMB. 2063/2024 – A Man and Independent.ie

The Press Ombudsman has not upheld a complaint from a 70-year-old man about an article entitled “Emojis, ringtones and loudspeakers – 10 tech signs you’re part of the older generation” which was published by Independent.ie in June 2024.  The complainant asserted that...

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Latest News

Lyra McKee Investigative Journalism Bursary 2025

Lyra McKee Investigative Journalism Bursary 2025

Applications are now open for the Lyra McKee Bursary Scheme 2025 The Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman is pleased to provide funding for one or two aspiring journalists from Ireland to take part in the Centre for Investigative Journalism's...

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Award of 2025 Press Council Fellowship

Award of 2025 Press Council Fellowship

The Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman has awarded its 2025 fellowship to Maeve McTaggart, a 26 year old Cork born journalist with the Irish Independent, for a news report on “How fraudsters are using fake ‘missing persons’ social media posts...

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