What's the comeback when there's inaccuracies / lies / bias in a newspaper article ?

Liam Byrne

Loads of people seem to laugh when anyone from Limerick points out that the stories printed about the place are exaggerated and semi-fictional, but how's about this:

Sunday's Independent - Jim Cusack:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardai-avert-gun-carnage-at-funeral-1353353.html?r=RSS

The same "journalist" has done a few other biased/untrue/supposition hatchet jobs on Limerick, but lets stick to this one because we hae the facts from today's Irish Examiner - Jimmy Woulfe:

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=61013-qqqx=1.asp

So what's the story with biased hacks and papers ? Can they be exposed and outed so that what's printed in papers is fair and balanced ?

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

shepthedog

As Smiaras said you should address your query to the newly formed Press Council.
I am not sure whether you have to be directly affected by the article but I am sure if you feel strongly enough about it then it is a valid complaint.

constitutionus

im not sure what the story is with the press council but at least its there now. previously you had to sue the fcukers in the courts and that costs a fortune and takes an age.

last case i heard was that russian translator that was in the car crash with liam lawlor that the indo called a whore.

i think you can complain to the broadcasting complaints comission if youve got a problem with radio or telly in terms of bias . i know one bloke whos complained about liveline's coverage of berts resignation to em.

santosubito

shepthedog wrote: »

As Smiaras said you should address your query to the newly formed Press Council.
I am not sure whether you have to be directly affected by the article but I am sure if you feel strongly enough about it then it is a valid complaint.

Here:
http://www.presscouncil.ie/v2/pressombudsman/portal.php?content=_includes/howtocomplain.php

As you can see, it says you must be directly affected by the offending article.
However, it could be argued that if you are living in Limerick, you are affected...

Give it a go. The Press Council is a great thing, IMHO.

tbh

link in the OP doesn't work, what was the story?

billy the squid

Put the truth up in a blog, and it might appear in the independent in three years time like that ValueIreland stuff did.

lostexpectation

could you cc your compaint to the press council and the indo...? would the press council keep a record?

you know the way they say we got X many compaints about something, on tv etc, i don't like the fact that you have give your name and be nearly willing to go to court just to complain about something.

they should be a system of general complaint

okay so you could say the complaints are the usuals or specious but they could be treated as just an indicator.

Pen1987

Just write to the newspaper stating how inaccurate, give the details of inaccuracies and what the true facts were. Make sure its less than 300 words in total and the might print it in letters to the editor. Or print an apology.

lostexpectation

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=61013-qqqx=1.asp
The page cannot be found
The page you are looking for might have been removed, had its name changed, or is temporarily unavailable.

f'ing examiner website!

gaf1983

This is taken from the Office of the Press Ombudsman's Code of Practice for Newspapers and Periodicals:

Principle 1 − Truth and Accuracy

1.1 In reporting news and information, newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times for truth and accuracy.

To make a complaint, the material in question must contravene the Code of Practice, which the Sunday Independent article would appear to do.

I suppose you would just have to argue that you were in some way directly affected by what was printed - or else maybe contact one of James Cronin's family to see if they would be willing to make a complaint?

Have you tried contacting Jim Cusack directly?