Independent media watchdog unveiled

AN INDEPENDENT watchdog set up to rule on public complaints about the print media has officially opened for business.

The Press Council and Press Ombudsman have said they will force publications to print apologies or retractions if a grievance is upheld.

The complaints bodies — established as an alternative to costly court battles — will not have the power to award compensation.

Former politician and journalist Professor John Horgan was appointed as Ireland’s first press ombudsman last August.

His office, which is supported by the print media and National Union of Journalists, is charged with investigating and adjudicating on public complaints.

A new code of practice agreed by the press industry will be the framework against which all complaints are considered.

Complaints that are not resolved satisfactorily by the ombudsman can be referred to the 13-member Press Council drawn from the public and media industry.

The Press Council and Press Ombudsman have placed advertisements in national newspapers to invite the public to contact them if they have a valid complaint.

The independent members of the Press Council are Séamus Boland, chief executive of Irish Rural Link; Mary Kotsonouris, former District Court judge; John Horgan, former Labour Court chairman; Maeve McDonagh, associate professor of law at UCC; Dr Eleanor O’Higgins, senior lecturer at UCD; and Peter O’Mahony, former chief executive of the Irish Refugee Council.

Representing the media are Rosemary Delaney, of WMB Publishing; Michael Denieffe, managing editor of Independent Newspapers; Martin Fitzpatrick, of the Irish executive council of the NUJ; Michael McNiffe, Irish Sun editor; Eoin McVey, managing editor of The Irish Times; and Frank Mulrennan, president of the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland. Former TCD Provost Professor Thomas Mitchell is the council’s chairman.

NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said the complaints mechanism represented an important development in the history of the Irish media.

“For too long legal redress was the only option open to readers and for many people that costly form of redress was not affordable,” he said.

“The industry has responded to legitimate public demand for greater accountability and media organisations are investing considerable resources in this process. The composition of the Press Council, with majority civic society membership, reflects the commitment to independence.”

Mr Dooley said ethical journalists have nothing to fear from the code of practice. “The vast majority of Irish journalists behave to the highest ethical standards on a daily basis,” he said.

“The new complaints mechanism will ensure that, where lapses in standards occur, unacceptable behaviour can be addressed. The code also sets a benchmark for editors and journalists in their daily work.”

* www.presscouncil.ie

Telephone: [phone]

* www.pressombudsman.ie

Lo-call 1890 208080