The press watchdog has rejected a complaint from the founder of two schools after claiming he was unfairly singled out in a regional daily’s investigation into their running.

Raja Miah went to the Independent Press Standards Organisation over a series of stories run by the Manchester Evening News, which had revealed how two schools, which he had founded, had been placed in special measures “after a string of controversies”.

Mr Miah, pictured, considered that, by including his name and photo repeatedly, the articles had unfairly singled him out in association with the schools and their problems, and suggested that he was responsible for their failings.

However, IPSO found in the MEN’s favour over its coverage.

Complaining under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, Mr Miah claimed the articles were misleading because his formal involvement in the schools in an operational capacity had ceased in September 2015, and the work he was leading had ended in May 2016.

After this date, he had continued to act as the CEO of the schools’ Multi Academy Trust, but he was not responsible for the management of the schools, each of which had its own governing body and principal.

He also felt that the articles were inaccurate to state that he had “set up” the schools, and that he was their “founder”, when in fact he was a single member of the teams that set up the schools, and several of the founders remained as directors after his involvement had ceased.

In response, the MEN said Mr Miah had been the public face of the schools and he had described himself as a founder, referred to ‘his’ aim to start a free school in previous articles and had actively promoted the schools on social media and spoken on their behalf.

In addition, he had been the chief executive of the schools for much of the time they were open, including after problems had become evident.

The MEN said that previously-published articles had referred to the complainant as the founder and Director of the schools, without attracting complaint, while it also provided evidence he had continued to be involved in the schools’ running after May 2016.

IPSO found that while the MEN had undoubtedly focused on the Mr Miah’s role in the schools, publications are entitled to select which pieces of information to include in articles, and which individuals to focus on, provided a misleading impression is not created.

It added the complainant had been involved in the founding of the school and had been a public face of the schools from the outset, regardless of the involvement of other individuals, and had also acted as a representative of the school in various settings.

The complaint was not upheld, and the full adjudication can be read here.