Adjudication No. 1230 (January 2004) [2004] APC 5

Adjudication No. 1230 (January 2004)

The Press Council has upheld a complaint by Audrey Robb against the Fraser Coast Chronicle for a front-page article and an editor's column published on the same day.

The conflict that gave rise to the article is primarily about barking dogs. The Chronicle has shown a proper interest in this serious issue, which is the main noise complaint received by many councils. Miss Robb has a history of concern with this issue and speaks for the Barking Dog Watch Group.

Miss Robb complains that both the article and the column, which appeared on 8 July 2003, vilify her personally. She also complains that the article is full of gossip, rumour and hearsay ... untruths and inaccuracies . She considers the Chronicle has a personal vendetta against her.

In an unattributed quote in the article, Miss Robb is called the neighbour from hell . The article is headlined 'We've had enough', say neighbours. The article details a meeting of the residents of North Street, Maryborough, a meeting suggested by the Chronicle, to discuss the problems between neighbours. The meeting was held at the property of a neighbour and Miss Robb was not invited to attend.

On the same page, a further article, based on an interview with Miss Robb, headlined Audrey: they've ganged up into a lynch mob, offers some further background to her side of the dispute.

Responding to the complaint the editor says that Miss Robb has been a virulent campaigner on the issue of barking dogs and noise in general. She says that the paper has published regular letters of complaint from her in their Letters pages. The editor also says that her column was based upon the accurate reporting of facts gleaned from neighbours and councils and based upon her knowledge of Miss Robb's past history of vexatious complaints to the Maryborough City Council .

The Press Council cannot presume to know the fine points of the interchanges between the parties involved in this highly charged issue of noise levels. It is, however, concerned that the article blurred the boundaries between a column and news reportage, and used unattributed quotes, some of which are damaging to Miss Robb.

The Press Council is dissatisfied with the response from the paper, which has not addressed queries about some of the alleged inaccuracies and untruths. While not agreeing that the Chronicle has a personal vendetta against Miss Robb, the Council believes it has trivialised and personalised an issue that is of genuine concern and interest.