Adjudication No. 1320  (adjudicated June 2006)

The Press Council has dismissed a complaint by David Vernon against The Mercury, Hobart, in respect of an article, headed Vernons Tilt at Greens (with a smaller heading $1500 paid for advert above it) published on page 9 on 16 March 2006.

The article drew on an advertisement published on page 11 of the same edition. The ad had been placed by Mr Vernon, who wanted to put forward his view on the sale of his family's property at Recherche Bay.

Mr Vernon objected to the publication of the article and in particular to its revelation that he had spent $1,500 on advertising. He argued that this payment was a private transaction between him and the owners of the newspaper and should not have been disclosed.

The article and advertisement were published during the Tasmanian election campaign. Mr Vernon said it was unfair that his advertisement was singled out for commentary in the editorial section of the paper. The newspaper responded that an individual taking out space to put forward an opinion was unusual and therefore more newsworthy than other, party political, advertising.

The Council sees nothing unusual in the publication of an article based on a newsworthy event, whatever its source. Newspapers often publish articles referring to the costs of advertising or a campaign. In any case, the advertising rates are freely available on the newspaper's website.

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