Complaints not adjudicated - 2001-2002

Only 17.6 per cent of complaints progressed through the Complaints Procedure (also published in the Council's information booklet, Objects, Principles and Complaints Procedure, available from the office) to the adjudication stage. Of the remainder some were refused, some referred to another body and others withdrawn for legal action. Ten per cent of complainants did not follow-up a request from the Secretariat for more detail on their complaints. And then there are those complainants who were happy to let their complaint rest after receiving the publication's response to the complaint.

But the best outcome of all is when the Council - either through the Secretariat or via a Public Member of the Press Council - is able to facilitate a successful mediation of the complainant's concerns and see the matter settled amicably. Here is a selection of the Council's real success stories from the last year.

• Mediated complaints
  
• Thank yous

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Mediated complaints

A regional daily published a group photograph, incorrectly labelling the group as gay artists. The paper republished the photograph, with copy supplied by the complainant, correctly identifying the people portrayed.

A metropolitan newspaper published an article on the death, while overseas, of an Australian citizen. The widow noted that there were a number of inaccuracies, and that her input was not contained in the article. The matter was referred to the Complaints Committee. During the hearing, the parties agreed to try a face-to-face mediation with a Public Member of the Press Council. The hearing was cancelled. The subsequent mediation saw the parties agree on a follow-up article for publication, which included points the widow wished to make.

A protestor against a development in a regional area complained that the local paper's coverage was biased. After discussions with the Council's office, the paper published the complainant's letter, and her opinion piece.

A suburban weekly published ads for adult services next to the junior sports news. The complainant believed this was highly inappropriate. The Press Council does not deal with advertising, nor other commercial aspects of newspaper production. On this occasion, however, as the complaint arose from the editorial decision on the placement of ads, the secretariat sought an informal response from the newspaper. The editor subsequently moved the adult services section to the middle of the classifieds pages.

The office mediated discussions between a large quasi-religious organization and an organ published in an ethnic community language following complaints by the organization that the newspaper did not provide balanced coverage of matters concerning them. The newspaper undertook to be more selective in it use of news agency material and the organization agreed to review the ways in which it provides material to the newspaper in attempts at balance.

A Sunday metropolitan published an article on an official report. Two complainants, both of whom had standing, complained that the paper had broken the embargo and had misrepresented the contents of the report. The parties agreed to a formal mediation by a Press Council Public Member. The mediation resulted in the paper promising to publish a news story on the issue; to consider an op/ed piece for publication; and to keep open the lines of communication between the parties and the paper.

A large circulation newspaper published a front-page photograph of a person falling from one of the World Trade Centre towers. The complainant was offended by the photograph, believing it to be in poor taste. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper wrote to the complainant. He accepted that the judgment to publish may have been in error, and apologised for the affront it caused.

A Sunday newspaper published an article which gave tribute to a pioneering heart surgeon. The complainant believed that the article gave sufficient details for him to identify his son, who had been an organ donor. The complainant also argued that his family's privacy had been invaded. A Public Member of the Press Council mediated between the paper and the complainant. They came to an agreement on a follow-up article, giving the complainant's side of the issue.

A magazine published an article which the complainant believed contained a number of inaccuracies. The article concerned the complainant and her family. The magazine sought, and was supplied, a legal waiver from the complainant. After a series of discussions, conducted by the secretariat, the parties agreed on a suitable apology for publication.

A metropolitan newspaper was criticised for not having a correction section on its online site. The paper explained that the omission was through an oversight, rather than a conscious decision. The online editor rectified the omission - the section appearing by the end of the following week.

A bylined article was published by a metropolitan newspaper. The article stated that a specific beach was patrolled by only one person on Christmas Day. The complainant, a life saving club, disputed this statement - it said there were at least five on duty that day. The paper's suggested clarification, offered via the secretariat, was rejected by the complainant. The parties met at a mediation, chaired by a Public Member of the Press Council. An agreement was reached that the paper would, upon receipt of additional information from he complainant, published an agreed correction.

A headline to a letter to the editor contradicted the contents of the letter. The country newspaper admitted the obvious error which, it said, was made by a sub editor. It published a correction in its next edition.

A metropolitan newspaper published an article on political rorts. The complainant was one of the subjects of the article. The parties to the complaint agreed to the publication of a letter to the editor by the complainant, addressing her side to the story.

A regional daily published an article on street kids, claiming that they were out of control. The local mayor believed that the article was imbalanced. He requested that his letter responding to the article be published. After negotiations, the letter was published prominently and in full.

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With thanks

Occasionally, a complainant puts pen to paper (or fingers on the keyboard) to relay a message of thanks. Here are some we received in the last year:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Press Council for its assistance, and congratulate it for the way it carries out its affairs in such an impartial and professional way. Please pass on my thanks to all concerned.

I have been very pleased with the reaction from the Australian Press Council and the management of the paper. Thank you for your assistance.

Thank you for the interest you took in my representations and for the prompt follow-up with the paper. There is no doubt in my mind that it was this initiative on your part which acted as a catalyst in terms of the clarification. I am very grateful. My experience represents a compelling case for the role and function of a Press Council in our community.

I have received the adjudication, it definitely rates the best Xmas present ever. Thank you for being there for us, and a Merry Christmas to all at the APC.

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View the details of complaints not adjudicated for each of the following years:

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