Below are summaries of the latest complaints involving the regional press which have been resolved between the parties involved, with help from the Press Complaints Commission.

East Grinstead Observer
Katie Butcher complained about two articles that reported on a car accident in which her brother had been killed. She was distressed to read that the article contained quotations from the tributes that had been left at the scene of the accident by family members. The complainant also raised concerns about the approach made by the newspaper’s reporter, the manner of which she considered persistent.
The complainant also raised concerns about a published photograph of her wedding day. She requested further information about from where the picture had been obtained. (Clauses 3, 5).
Resolution:
The newspaper emphasised that the tributes were in a public place and were therefore in the public domain. The editor defended the actions of its reporter arguing that he had asked her to telephone the family to give them a final chance to make a tribute. The newspaper also explained that the photograph had been obtained from a MySpace tribute site which had since been removed.
That said, the editor of the newspaper assured the complainant that the inquest report would not be treated in any way differently for her having made a complaint through the PCC. The complainant agreed to resolve her complaint on that basis and through the publication of a summary of it on the PCC website.

Crawley News
Katie Butcher complained about an article that reported on a car accident in which her brother had been killed. She was distressed to read that the article contained quotations from the tributes that had been left at the scene of the accident by family members.
The complainant also raised concerns about the approach made by the newspaper’s reporter, the manner of which she considered persistent. (Clauses 3, 5).
Resolution:
The newspaper emphasised that the tributes were in a public place and were therefore in the public domain. The editor also defended the actions of its reporter making clear that he had asked her to telephone the family to give them a final chance to make a tribute.
That said, the editor of the newspaper assured the complainant that the inquest report would not be treated in any way differently for her having made a complaint through the PCC. The complainant agreed to resolve her complaint on that basis and through the publication of a summary of it on the PCC website.

Sandbach Chronicle
Lyn Hughes, publicity and marketing manager of Sandbach High School and Sixth Form College, complained that an editorial in regard to the non-publication of its A-level results – which republished in full an earlier editorial about the newspaper’s deteriorating relationship with the school – was inaccurate and misleading. (Clause 1).
Resolution:
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published a lengthy letter from the school outlining its position in regard to the matter, which had caused relations between the parties to worsen. The newspaper, for its part, published an unreserved apology to the school in addition to a further editorial about the issue, accepting that mistakes had been made and looking forward to a more amicable relationship with the school in the future.

Wakefield Guardian
Andrew Spink complained that an article which reported on an accident in which his brother had died contained inaccuracies which had caused his family a great deal of distress. (Clause 1).
Resolution:
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following apology to the complainant’s family:
“In the July 19 issue of the Wakefield Guardian we included a story on the front page titled ‘Mystery of Body Find’, describing an incident in which a Wakefield cyclist was killed on July 18, 2007.
Firstly, we accept the story was deeply disturbing and distressing to the family of the victim. It also did not fully respect the dignity of the man who died. We acknowledge the pain and distress this caused the victim’s family and friends and deeply regret it.
We learned later our story was inaccurate and accept that its placement on the front page created a sensationalised story that added to the family’s distress. We also accept that the victim’s friends, and our readers in general, were misled into believing the victim died under completely different circumstances.
We would like to extend our apologies to the victim’s family and friends and to all those who may have been affected by the story and would like to make assurances to the family, and our readers, that such a situation could not arise again.”

Shropshire Star
Councillor Jon Tandy complained that a feature about Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski was inaccurate. (Clause 1).
Resolution:
The matter was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification:
“Further to our recent feature on Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski (p8, October 17), we have been asked by Councillor Jon Tandy to make clear that the substance of his complaint to the Parliamentary Standards Board about Mr Kawczynski, repeating false allegations that he was involved in postal fraud, was never considered because it was deemed to have been lodged out of time. In addition, we are happy to clarify that Mr Kawczynski lives nine miles outside Shrewsbury, in the North Shropshire District Council and constituency area.”

Wirral Globe
Mr Akinwale Arobieke complained that the newspaper had referred to him by a name which he found racist and offensive. (Clause 12).
Resolution:
The complaint was resolved when the newspaper undertook not to use the term in future coverage.