Adjudication No. 1404  (adjudicated September 2008)

The Press Council has dismissed a complaint against The Australian over the publication on May 20 of a colour photograph of a burning immigrant during the violence in Johannesburg. A smaller version of the image was also published, in black and white, on May 26.

Mr Lucas complained that publication of the "shocking" photograph breached the principles in that it caused offence and was not justified by the public interest.

The Australian responded that the first photograph formed part of a long series of articles about the situation in South Africa and Zimbabwe and illustrated the on-going tragedy in those countries in a responsible way. The second photograph accompanied a story about the burning man himself.

The Press Council agrees that the image is confronting but its publication was reasonable in the circumstances.

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