U.K. Newspapers divided over press regulation charter

Following Monday's presentation of a tough new press regulation charter in the British parliament, some newspaper publishers continue to make noise about possible legal challenges or the start of an alternative regulatory system, while others look ready to accept it.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. has so far said that it was studying the planned regulator, which could put fines of $1.5 million on publishers running afoul of a code of conduct and force them to run prominent apologies. But Murdoch himself took to Twitter late Tuesday to comment on Monday's all-party agreement to introduce the new regulator via a so-called royal charter rather than via a regular law.

"UK Royal Charter requires Queen's signature," Murdoch tweeted. "Unlikely without full all party support. Queen doesn't do politics."

Given that the press regulation deal had the support of all British parties, observers on Wednesday took the comment as a toned-down expression of concern and criticism. It was the latest signal that his company could oppose the proposed regulator after the Sun tabloid had on Tuesday criticized the regulation attempt with comparisons to the totalitarian regime described in George Orwell's "1984."

While the Guardian and Financial Times have previously signaled they would be willing to accept a tougher press regulator, others have also signaled discontent.
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