The Press Complaints Commission is seeking three new public (aka lay) members.
Free advertisements for the posts are appearing in many newspapers across Britain, including the Sunday Times appointments section. (Why not in The Guardian? I dunno).
Anyway, this is a serious attempt to attract some new blood to the regulator and the ads really should be published by every paper and magazine that subscribes to the system of self-regulation.
The full details of the requirements, term of office and pay (£11,500 a year plus exes, since you ask) can be found in two places on the PCC's website, here and here.
One point that may lift an eyebrow (well, it already has) is the advert's statement that the appointments will be made on the recommendation of the PCC's newly constituted nominations committee.
Who, asks an emailer, sits on that? And who is the mysterious "independent adviser"?
I can answer the former, because the members are listed on the PCC website as PCC chair Baroness (Peta) Buscombe, deputy chair Ian Nichol and Professor Ian Walden.
As for the latter, the independent adviser remains anonymous - under the terms of recruitment process - until after it has been completed. I can narrow it down by saying that it is a female person who has no connection to the PCC.
This is a wonderful opportunity to appoint people with good sense. But there isn't much time left. Applications must be in by 5pm on 1 February.
