Adjudication No. 1248 (July 2004) [2004] APC 23

Adjudication No. 1248 (July 2004)

The Australian Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Gregory Bondar against The St George & Sutherland Shire Leader.

Mr Bondar was an independent candidate in local government elections. He complained that the newspaper had not sought his comment nor published a story based on a press release he issued in the lead-up to the election, despite his being informed by a journalist that an article had been submitted to the editor for publication. He alleged bias and lack of fairness in this non-coverage as a result of his history of complaints about the newspaper.

The newspaper contended that it weighed up considerations of public interest and benefit and available space (during an election period with over 250 candidates in the three St George councils covered by the newspaper) in its decision not to publish the article drafted as a result of Mr Bondar's press release. The newspaper stated that a journalist sought comment from Mr Bondar but his call was not returned.

The Council accepts that a newspaper is entitled to make judgments about publication based on public interest and space considerations and did so, without apparent bias, in these circumstances.