Latest adjudications and other complaint outcomes (APC Update No 42) [2014] AUPressClUpdate 18; (2014) Australian Press Council Update 42

• Summary of latest adjudication
• Nikki Sutterby/The Weekend Australian
• Remedies without adjudication
• A recent example of the Council helping complainants obtain a remedy without adjudication

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APC UPDATE | 12 September 2014

Summary of latest adjudication

Nikki Sutterby/The Weekend Australian

The Press Council has considered a complaint about an article which was headed "Roo the day" in the Food and Wine section of The Weekend Australian on 11-12 January 2014.

The Council decided that the statements about kangaroo harvesting in the article were likely to be read as subjective assessments by the journalist rather than verified statements of fact. In relation to the methods used by Macro Meats, the producer on which the article focused, the Council concluded that no significant evidence of inhumane or unhygienic processes had been omitted. Accordingly, the aspect of the complaint relating to inaccuracy and unfairness was not upheld.

The Council decided that the involvement of Macro Meats in proposing and sponsoring the author’s trip to observe its processes amounted to a potential conflict of interest and should have been disclosed explicitly to readers. Accordingly, that aspect of the complaint was upheld. The publication’s subsequent disclosure in the online archived version of the article was welcome but does not eliminate the breach. Read the full adjudication

Remedies without adjudication

A recent example of the Council helping complainants obtain a remedy without adjudication

The complainant said that an article published in print in one publication and online in a sister publication had misquoted his views on a matter of public health research. They had been expressed in his capacity as president of a relevant organisation.

The complainant had attempted to arrange amendments directly with one of publications but he believed the discussions further confused the issue. Accordingly, he then complained to the Press Council.

Council staff worked with the complainant and the publications to achieve an agreed clarification acknowledging the error and clearly stating the complainant’s actual views. The clarification was published in print and online, under a headline that included the name of the complainant.