The majority of complaints made to the Press Complaints Commission, which raise a possible breach of the Code of Practice, are resolved directly between the Commission’s staff, editors and complainants.
These are either settled to the express satisfaction of the complainant following some remedial action by the editor or are not pursued by complainants following an explanation or other response from the publication.
Below are summaries of the latest complaints involving the regional press which fall into the first category.
Crawley News
Gary Walker, chief executive of Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust, complained that an article which reported that, owing to the fact that he was on holiday, he had missed a meeting with the Prime Minister, was inaccurate and misleading. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification: Further to our front page story of the 19th April, headlined “Meet the PM? Sorry I am on holiday”, we have been asked to make clear that Gary Walker, Chief Executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, was never invited to the meeting with the Prime Minister to which the article referred. Professor Irene Scott, Director of Nursing for the Trust who did attend the meeting, did not do so “in Mr Walkers place”. We are happy to clarify the position and regret any inaccuracy.
Burton Mail
Philip Gretton of Burton-on-Trent complained that an article about his step-son’s appearance as a mascot at a Manchester United game included particular information about his wife’s ill-health. He said he had told the newspaper not to refer to the seriousness of her illness since to do so would be intrusive. (Clauses 3, 5)
Resolution: The matter was resolved when the newspaper’s editor wrote personally to the complainant to apologise that particular terminology was used in the article and that he and his family had been caused distress.
Express & Echo
Mr and Mrs Reynolds and Mrs J Nicholas complained that an article had inaccurately contended that Aalen House Nursing Home had been rescued from the brink of collapse by its new owners, and as a result had been awarded with a congratulatory picture from the Queen. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following clarification: Following an article published in the Echo on May 31, we have been asked to make it clear by the former owners of Aalen House Nursing Home in Okehampton, Mr and Mrs Reynolds and Mrs J H Nicholas, that at the time the business was sold it was not on the “brink of collapse” and did not need “rescuing”. We also wish to make clear that a portrait of the Queen presented by Geoffrey Cox P was made as part of celebrations to mark the Queen’s 80th birthday and was not an award specific to the nursing home. We are happy to set the record straight.
Sussex Express
A woman from East Sussex complained that an article which reported that her son had killed a Koi carp at a popular tourist attraction was inaccurate and misleading. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The complaint was resolved when the newspaper published the following text: Our front-page article of April 21 reported that two children, one aged 13 and the other 14, illegally entered Paradise Park, Newhaven, and used golf clubs to kill a Koi carp. The 13-year-old, while accepting that he should not have gone into the park in the way he did, has denied using a golf club or taking any part in the killing of the fish. He also denies swearing or “mooning” at park staff in the past. The police subsequently decided to take no action against him over the death of the Koi carp. The Sussex Express is happy to clarify the position.
Evening Standard
David Benjamin of Kent said that he had been interviewed by The Guardian newspaper for an article on Maths reforms. Subsequently, a journalist from the Evening Standard submitted the content of an article he was writing for the complainant’s comments following a conversation they had had on the same topic. The complainant said that he suggested a few changes and asked that the journalist check his facts on the manner in which Maths was taught in Australia. The complainant then saw that the newspaper had published a short letter, claiming to be from him, which was out of context with many of his views missing. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The newspaper said that there had been a genuine misunderstanding and offered to publish a letter from the complainant with an attached apology reading: On 29 June we printed a letter which, due to a misunderstanding, did not accurately reflect Mr Benjamin’s views, for which we apologise.
The complainant was happy with the newspaper’s offer and agreed to resolve his complaint on this basis because, given that he was happy with the way in which his views were expressed in The Guardian article, he saw no benefit in expressing his views in a different newspaper.
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