The International Press Institute has welcomed a joint pledge by the media in Bermuda to set up a self-regulating council by mid-September.

The Vienna-based global organisation said it supported the initiative, which was prompted after Government tabled a bill to create a statutory council to deal with complaints about the media.

The IPI and other international press freedom groups warned that the proposed legislation constituted a worrying attempt to interfere in the functioning of the Island's media.

Local journalists and lawyers also criticised the bill, claiming the council would be politically biased and could infringe freedom of expression.

Premier Ewart Brown said on Friday that the Media Council Act 2010 would be withdrawn if the media fulfilled its pledge to set up a voluntary watchdog.

Earlier that day, IPI director David Dadge said it was clear that the media wished to "voluntarily adhere to high professional standards, and serve its readership, without being constrained by statutory regulation".

He added: "We hope that the Government will now revoke its proposed media council bill."

The joint media proposal includes a pledge to have a code of conduct and detailed plan drafted by June 8.

Human rights lawyer Toby Mendel, from the Centre for Law and Democracy in Canada, said: "This is a great initiative."