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Newspaper reprinted after sex offender photo mix-up

A local newspaper in Scotland had to apologise after printing a picture of the wrong man alongside a story about a convicted sex offender.

Hundreds of copies of the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter had to be recalled and reprinted following the mix-up.

The Clyde Weekly Press-owned title carried the photo on pages one and four of this week’s edition, claiming it was convicted sex offender David Logan, 24.

The photograph was in fact that of James MacLean, 22, a supermarket worker who had no connection to the story.

The reprinted edition of the newspaper carried a front page apology which read: “Earlier editions of the Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter carried a picture of a man on pages one and four we claimed was convicted sex offender David Logan, 24.

“This was not the case.

“The picture was of supermarket worker James MacLean, 22, who has no connection to the story.

“We are happy to set the record straight and would like to apologise to Mr MacLean and his family for any distress our article has caused.”

The apology also appeared on the newspaper’s website and was the most viewed story there yesterday.

The Reporter currently sells around 3,700 copies a week.

4 comments

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  • February 23, 2012 at 10:53 am
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    Another victim of local newspapers’ near obsession with this kind of case. Is it any wonder a mature debate about this kind of crime is not possible.

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  • February 23, 2012 at 11:15 am
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    risky way of building up web hits. Don’t think it will catch on.

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  • February 23, 2012 at 11:26 am
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    Yes, why are local newspapers obsessed with “this kind of case”?

    Are these kinds of stories what the public wants to read? I haven’t seen peaks in circulation figures to prove that.

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  • February 23, 2012 at 4:20 pm
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    You on intimate terms then, Welshwolf, with the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter’s circulations trends?

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