IPSO

IPSO stands for the Independent Press Standards Organisation. This is the regulatory body which makes sure that material published in a Newspaper is not considered obscene, offensive, racist, or likely to encourage hate.

Here is a newspaper that people complained about to IPSO.

Sometimes these rules can become blurred, and the media can be accused of stirring up hatred and negative feeling against people - this is often former celebrities, especially those who have already been found guilty of a crime.

IPSO used to be known as the Press Council. Its standards of what is acceptable can change over the years. 

Here is a newspaper from the 1970s

This would not be not allowed because of complaints of racism


Here is a newspaper from the 1980s

This article from the Sunday Sport (published by Andrew Sullivan, a porn magazines publisher)would not be not allowed because of complaints of it being offensive

Not all newspapers are signed up to IPSO, and some like the Times and the Guardian, regulate themselves.