Adjudication No. 1443  (adjudicated October 2009)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Rob Perkovic against The Daily Telegraph for articles dated July 13, 17, 18 and 22, 2009, which reported on swine flu deaths.

Mr Perkovic complained that the articles exaggerated the severity of swine flu and amounted to "fear-mongering", "propaganda tactics" and promotion of the drug company responsible for vaccinations.

The Council can find no evidence of a breach of its principles. The articles, part of a series, were not sensationalised, did not exaggerate the possible impact of the virus and references to the drug company appeared only in passing in one of the cited articles.

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