언론관계법상 언론자율규제제도의 실효성 제고를 위한 고찰 - 언론중재법ㆍ신문법상의 관련 제도를 중심으로-

Abstract

The results of the Korea Press Foundation's annual survey on the credibility of news reports and journalists by media outlets are proof of the crisis in the Korean media. Furthermore, the media in the digital age is rapidly and widely changing in a way that is different from the traditional media situation, from its scope to its means of relief, which brings about even greater concerns. Therefore, we have been examining ways to strengthen the responsibility of the media while guaranteeing freedom and independence of the media, and a representative way is to establish and implement a self-regulatory system for the media itself. Therefore, the research subjects found through the current media-related laws were the grievance handling system under the Press Arbitration Act and the readers' rights committee system under the Newspaper Act. The grievance handling system, which is designed to prevent and remedy damage caused by the media, is a cost-effective and quick means of redressing damages, and can also benefit media companies. However, in order for this role and function to be realized as intended by the legislation and to fit the current media atmosphere, it needs to be improved. Measures such as expanding the obligation to install grievance handling officers to Internet newspaper operators, strengthening the role of grievance handling officers to be more practical and preventive, and operating related procedures to internally share the results of deliberation and prevent recurrence of problems. In addition, since independence, transparency, and fairness are the core values ​​of the grievance handling system, an institutional structure must be established in which grievance handling officers can secure independence from media companies while also operating effectively. However, even when examining practical measures to improve the self-regulatory system of media companies such as the grievance handling system or the readers’ rights committee system, it is desirable to institutionalize incentive contents as a support measure because the freedom of press reporting cannot be subject to intrusive regulation by state power. The biggest problem with the grievance handling system and the readers’ rights committee system as self-regulatory systems of the press is that securing the effectiveness of self-deliberation systems is insufficient in terms of legislation and policy. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, related legal revisions and institutional improvements are necessary, and realistic measures to enhance the effectiveness of self-regulatory organizations should be actively prepared.