General Press Release No. 228 (March 1999)

Inadequate Publication of Adjudication

The Australian Press Council has strongly censured New Idea for failing to publish in an appropriate manner an adjudication critical of the magazine.

In February, the Press Council found that New Idea had breached the Council's principles by failing to publish a denial by Felicity Kennett and Tim Fletcher of allegations contained in an article in the magazine. Both parties had complained to the Council. In upholding the complaints, the Council had issued a written adjudication which described the conduct of New Idea as "reprehensible".

New Idea subsequently published the Council's adjudication on the letters page of its 13 March edition. However, the print size used on the adjudication was very small and much smaller than that used on the rest of the page. In addition, New Idea edited the adjudication by omitting the line that described the magazine's conduct as "reprehensible".

This action on the part of New Idea does not adhere to the Council's requirements on the prominent publication of adjudications. The Council has called on New Idea to republish the adjudication in a proper form.

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