Resolved complaints dealt with by the Press Complaints Commission during April, May and June, 2000

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.

Listed below are summaries of those complaints, concerning regional newspapers, which fall into the former category.

Evening Argus
Ms Lorna Hornby, Public Relations Executive of Bovis Homes Group PLC, complained that some information in a series of articles about the company’s involvement in a local development was misleading.
Resolution: The newspaper published a clarification.

Formby Times
A man from Formby complained that an article had identified him and stated his occupation and address when reporting the unrelated matter of his son’s conviction for driving offences.
Resolution: The editor wrote a personal letter of apology to the complainant and published an apology.

Evening Press & Star
Mr R Smith of Southampton complained that a newspaper had published his letter including his name and address, despite being asked not to do so.
Resolution: The newspaper apologised but explained that they had written to the complainant, asking for his permission to publish his details, and had not received a response.

Harlow Star
A man from Harlow complained that an article concerning his father’s funeral had intruded into the grief and shock of the family and invaded his mother’s privacy through the publication of her address.
Resolution: The editor wrote a personal letter of apology to the complainant’s mother.

Louth Leader
Mrs J Pacey of Louth, Lincolnshire, complained that the publication of her address intruded into her privacy.
Resolution: The editor published an apology.

Solihull News
Ms S Ayton, of Knight Ayton Management, acting on behalf of her client Mr M Buerk, complained that an article concerning the arrangements for a debate at Mr Buerk’s old school was misleading.
Resolution: The newspaper published a clarification.

Stockport Express Advertiser
Mr and Mrs Carter of Stockport, Cheshire, complained that an article about their daughter’s illness contained inaccuracies and was published without their consent and that the reporter had harassed them.
Resolution: The newspaper wrote a letter to the complainants standing by the story but apologising for any distress caused.

The Cornishman
Mr Simon Rodda of Penzance complained that an article about demolition plans for a hotel wrongly named his hotel as the subject of the plans.
Resolution: The newspaper published a correction and apology and offered to publish a further article on the complainant’s hotel.

The Weekly News
Mr R Gaze of Colwyn Bay complained that personal details in an article had intruded into his privacy.
Resolution: The editor-in-chief wrote a letter of explanation to the complainant and accepted that there had been an oversight.

Western Mail
Ms A Screen of Newport, Gwent, complained that an article about the sale of her home gave an inaccurate impression of the price she and her partner had paid for it.
Resolution: The newspaper published a further piece featuring the complainant’s home and a clarification regarding the price she had paid.

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