Adjudication No. 420 (October 1989) [1989] APC 33

ADJUDICATION No. 420 (October 1989)

Mr Ken Anderson of Anderson Public Relations, who helped Mrs Janine Egan-Lee when she stood in the last elections for Knox Council in Victoria, complains to the Australian Press Council that the local newspaper, the Knox News, chose not to give her the same treatment as it did to all other candidates in its final summary of election issues. He states that the local paper failed to print her photograph or devote any meaningful copy to her stand on the issues; it chose also to destroy her electoral chances by stating that despite all its efforts it (the paper) was unable to contact her for comment.

However Mr Anderson says that Mrs Egan-Lee ensured her phones were manned everyday in the final days leading up to the election, including the time up to the paper's deadline.

The Press Council accepts that the paper made genuine attempts to contact Mrs Egan-Lee in preparing its 1 August edition but without success.

The editor-in-chief also says that in the previous week's Knox News there was a prominent article and photograph of the candidate on page nine which included some of the points from the press release prepared by Mrs Egan-Lee. There was an interview with a reporter.

In the light of this reply, the Council concludes that the newspaper acted reasonably and therefore dismisses the complaint. However it would have been fairer to the complainant had the photograph been published again in the 1 August edition.