Held at The Studio on Cannon St in the centre of the city, the day began with a surgery session, with members of PCC staff taking questions on a one-to-one basis. Representatives from local health and police organisations – as well as members of the public with a general interest in the press – asked a variety of questions on issues such as the methods of redress available via the PCC, how the Commission’s anti-harassment service works, and newsgathering techniques used by journalists. Some individuals also brought along copies of articles that they had particular concerns about, and were able to discuss these in detail – and in confidence - with someone from the PCC.

The surgery session was followed by a Question and Answer session. The panel - which was chaired by PCC Director Tim Toulmin - consisted of Steve Dyson, editor of the Birmingham Mail; Vivien Hepworth, a public member of the Commission; and Alison Hastings, a former editor and member of the Commission, and now the BBC Trustee for England. Over the course of an hour and a quarter, debate ranged from the development of the industry’s Code of Practice over the past 20 years, the implications of the PCC’s recent move to regulate audio-visual material on newspaper and magazine websites, how local newspapers choose and run campaigns, and the importance of reader letters and feedback in local newspapers.