Independent membership organisation for editors at all levels, within national, regional and local publications across all medias, working to protect the freedom of the press. The Society made several submissions throughout the Inquiry and many of its members gave individual evidence. Of particular concern to the Society and the editors it represented was the "Section 40" proposal that would force newspapers to pay the costs of legal action against them, regardless of the merit, if that publisher hadn't signed up to an "approved regulator". At the formal closing of the Inquiry, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock told the house that Section 40 would not go ahead.