Push to get all media signed up to press code

A push is on to get publishers of online news to sign up to a code of practice for handling complaints after the Press Council adjudicated on its first formal grievance arising from social media.

Press Council chairman, Daithí O’Ceallaigh, said the media landscape had changed dramatically since the Council was established but the same principles of accountability and redress should apply.

“In 2007 certainly many newspapers had associated websites. Today most of our member publications are in effect multi-platform publishers.

“The web is elastic. It can and does include, as well as text, both video and audio, whether generated by the newspaper itself or included as a link to another media source.”

The Press Council’s annual report published yesterday reveals it received 381 complaints last year, mainly against national newspapers and mostly arising from claims of inaccurate reporting.

That figure was a substantial reduction on 2012 but was on a par with previous years. Slightly more complaints were dismissed than upheld but over the Council’s seven years, complainants have had exactly a 50-50 chance of success.

Press Ombudsman John Horgan, who adjudicates on the complaints, said the odds were coincidental. “This is not the result of any deliberate policy on my part as of course the extent to which any complaint is upheld depends on the merits of each case.”

Professor Horgan, who retires in September, said his period as ombudsman had demonstrated to him that there was immense public goodwill for honest, courageous journalism.

He said investment in quality journalism was an investment in public trust but he warned: “Good journalism is always expensive. Together, we need to persuade the public at large that this is the case and that it is always a price worth paying.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who was guest of honour at the report’s publication, said the number of complaints received last year was “relatively modest” given the extent of journalistic activity in the country and said he believed there was considerable satisfaction with the professional standards applied by the print media.

But he said breaches did occur and: “All citizens are entitled to effective and accessible protection against media publication of false or misleading comments, against media revelations of their private lives where no legitimate public interest justifies publication.”

Mr Kenny hinted he would maintain the special lower Vat rate on newspapers, due to be reviewed in this year’s budget, saying it had demonstrated the Government’s practical support of the press.

Not only the general public has turned to the Press Council for help after failing to get a satisfactory response. In one case, the editor of a regional newspaper had a complaint against a rival newspaper upheld over an incorrect report that his publication had been fined for contempt of court.