Adjudication No. 1305  (adjudicated December 2005)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Mark K. Tomkinson against the Donnybrook-Bridgetown Mail over the editor's refusal to publish a second letter on a local issue.

On 5 July 2005 the editor published a letter from Mr Tomkinson critical of the Bridgetown Shire Council. Mr Tomkinson claimed the local council had been incapable of anticipating the problems arising from increased population.

On the 12 July an A Scobie responded to Mr Tomkinson through the letters column saying it was a "bit rich" for him to claim that all crime, traffic, safety, parking, and water shortage problems were "courtesy of metropolitan interlopers".

Mr Tomkinson wrote again to the editor on 21 July saying that, while Mr Scobie was entitled to his views, he should have disclosed that he was a professional journalist who proofread the local council's newsletter. When this letter was not published, Mr Tomkinson complained the newspaper failed to ensure fairness and balance when it did not publish his countering letter or check on Mr Scobie's background.

Newspapers do need to ensure the authenticity of letters to the editor. It is unreasonable, however, to expect newspapers to undertake detailed background checks on its letter writers or give infinite opportunities to correspondents to reply to comments on their letters.

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