InPublishing: Latest resolved complaints by PCC

Recent resolved complaints by the Press Complaints Commission.

Silverman v The Mail on Sunday

Lauren Silverman complained to the Press Complaints Commission, through her representatives, Johnsons Solicitors, that the newspaper had published inaccurate and intrusive claims regarding her and her son’s private Christmas holiday arrangements, in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) and Clause 6 (Children) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant’s representatives had engaged in direct correspondence with the publication prior to the PCC complaint but considered that it had not provided a satisfactory response.

The complaint was resolved after the PCC negotiated the publication of the following clarification and apology:

A diary item on November 16, 2013 said that Lauren Silverman would join Simon Cowell in Barbados for Christmas even though it would mean separation from her young son. We are happy to clarify that Ms Silverman enjoyed Christmas with her son, as had been planned, before joining Simon Cowell. We apologise for any upset caused to Mr Cowell and Ms Silverman. (Cl 1)

Cowell v The Mail on Sunday

Simon Cowell complained to the Press Complaints Commission, via his representatives, that the newspaper had published inaccurate and intrusive claims regarding his, Lauren Silverman and her son’s private Christmas holiday arrangements, in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant’s representatives had engaged in direct correspondence with the publication prior to the PCC complaint but considered that it had not provided a satisfactory response.

The complaint was resolved after the PCC negotiated the publication of the following clarification and apology:

Addis v The Times

Complaint

Professor Mark Addis complained to the Press Complaints Commission under Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice, about an article which he considered to have been inaccurate and misleading.

The complainant believed the article misrepresented his views, particularly where it stated that he believed that “Aristotle was the most useful thinker for builders”.

Resolution

The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the publication of the following clarification:

In reporting that Professor Mark Addis of Birmingham City University had received £34,000 to explore the place of philosophy in the building trade (“Taxpayers gave 38m for ‘doubtful’ studies”, Oct 7, 2013), we attributed to Professor Addis the view that “Aristotle was the most useful philosopher for builders”. This was not intended to suggest that he advocates reading Aristotle on construction sites. Professor Addis’s work is concerned with the ways in which mistaken ideas about knowledge lead to mistaken approaches to knowledge management. We are happy to make this clear (Cl 1)

Portes v Daily Mail

Complaint

Mr Jonathan Portes, Director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published inaccurate and misleading information on its website in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant said that the newspaper had incorrectly stated that £2.7 billion was paid in Jobseekers Allowance to residents of Birmingham. He was further concerned that the newspaper incorrectly reported that the number of “workless households… rose through the boom years”.

Resolution

The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the removal of the article and the publication of the following correction on the newspaper’s website:

An article published on 2 February 2014 incorrectly stated that Birmingham has the highest benefits bill in the UK, with £2.7bn paid out in Jobseeker's Allowance - £157 per adult. In fact, £2.7bn was the total benefits spend in Birmingham for 2013. The correct figure for Jobseekers Allowance is £173 million, and this is £157 per adult. Additionally, the article stated that ‘the number of workless households rose through the boom years’. In fact, while the number of households where no adult had ever worked did rise through the boom years, the number of households where no person was in work at the time of the survey fell during this period. We are happy to clarify this. (Cl 1)

Sutton v The Guardian

Complaint

Mr David Sutton complained to the Press Complaints Commission that the newspaper had published inaccurate information in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. The complainant was concerned that the newspaper had published quotations from the trial of Neil Wilson in the context of court cases involving the rape of children. This was inaccurate and misleading as Neil Wilson had not been charged with or convicted of rape. He had been convicted for sexual activity with a child. The complainant was concerned that the inaccurate reporting of the case might result in fewer offences being reported to the police.

Resolution

The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the publication of the following footnote to the article, the underlined section of which was hyperlinked to the judgement:

This article was amended on 6 December 2013 to remove from the opening paragraph two quotes from the case of Neil Wilson which had been wrongly used in the context of rape. It was further amended on the 28th of February 2014 to clarify: Neil Wilson was accused of (and pleaded guilty to) sexual activity with a child, not rape. (Cl 1)

Whitely v Daily Mail

Complaint

Ms Claire Whitely complained about three articles that reported on the death of her daughter, under Clause 1 (Accuracy), Clause 5 (Intrusion into grief or shock) and Clause 10 (Clandestine devices and subterfuge) of the Editors’ Code of Practice.

The complainant was concerned about the publication of photographs which had been taken outside an inquest hearing, as well as a number of the claims about the events which led to her daughter’s death.

Resolution

The complaint was resolved when the PCC negotiated the removal of the photographs in question and a donation to the mental health charity MIND. (Cl 1, 5 & 10)