Adjudication No. 1262 (October 2004) [2004] APC 37

Adjudication No. 1262 (October 2004)

The Press Council has dismissed a complaint from Richard Whitling about a number of by-lined articles and editorials published in The Northern Star and Byron Shire News concerning the proposed development of the Shara Boulevard site as a sporting complex.

Describing himself as a local resident, rate-payer and community volunteer who is also involved in sporting activities, Mr Whitling claimed that the coverage of this matter, which has been a subject of public debate for several years, breached Press Council principles relating to honest and fair reporting, balance and the clear distinction between fact and opinion.

He stated that the newspaper had rejected information he had supplied and described the published material as 'provocative and one-sided'.

In his response to the complaint the Editor-in-Chief of the newspapers stated that both had actively sought for publication any relevant material 'irrespective of which viewpoint it serves'. Furthermore the information supplied by the complainant had been followed up.

He had himself spoken on the phone with Mr Whitling and asked him to comment, but Mr Whitling replied that he did not wish to put himself in a position where he would be quoted.

The Editor-in-Chief also asserted that The Northern Star had publicly declared its support for the development and had in fact, prior to the recent articles, published a statement that it was 'kicking off a campaign to help Ocean Shores residents obtain their sporting field'.

The Northern Star had published a lengthy Letter to the Editor setting out Mr Whitling's views in 2000 and had recently invited him to write another letter for publication; this offer was declined by the complainant.

The Press Council believes that the newspapers clearly disclosed their position on the issue and invited opposing views for publication. The newspapers were not in breach of Press Council principles, in that they tried to give both sides of the debate a voice in the news columns.