Misleading headline in newspaper

snubbleste

This was printed in the Independent on 24 January. The headline says 'girl', but the article reveals she is 18 and refers to her as a woman.
Is this headline misleading to the reader or is this 'just the way things are'?
Would it be in breach of the Press Council's code of practice?
1.1 In reporting news and information, newspapers and periodicals shall strive at all times for truth and accuracy.

Gardai probe girl's taxi ordeal over 50 cent
By Brian McDonald Monday January 24 2011

Gardai are investigating a complaint by an 18-year-old student that she was subjected to a terrifying ordeal by a taxi driver over an alleged debt of 50 cent.
The Limerick woman, who is a first-year student at NUI Galway, was recovering at her family home over the weekend after being driven away in the back of a taxi, without knowing where she was being taken.>>
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/gardai-probe-girls-taxi-ordeal-over-50-cent-2508085.html

28064212

"Girl" is not a legally defined term meaning someone under 18. Similarly, woman is not a legally defined term meaning someone over 18.

So no, it is not misleading and it is not in breach of anything

Horsebox_twenty

I'd have used 'girl' in the headline too. Makes it a better headline for a mid-market paper, it isn't inaccurate, it doesn't breach council guidelines, either in letter or spirit, and perhaps it fitted the space better than woman. Anyway, most people I know would usually refer to 18-year old females as 'girls', as opposed to women. I know I do.

Aside from the legality of it, why would something like this even bother you at all, unless you wanted it to? Are you on the lookout for something to complain about in a newspaper? There are better options than this story out there for you if you are...

coylemj

Horsebox_twenty wrote: »

Aside from the legality of it, why would something like this even bother you at all, unless you wanted it to? Are you on the lookout for something to complain about in a newspaper? There are better options than this story out there for you if you are...

+1

Have you never heard adult women talking about a 'girls night out'? I have seen countless programmes on TV where adult women refer to females in general as 'girls'. For example if a female doctor was referring to the gender breakdown in her year in college, she would invariably refer to how many 'girls' were in her class, not 'women'.

In some ways it's a milder version of the situation with the so-called 'N' word, it's ok for women to talk about 'girls' regardless of their age but if men use the word to refer to females over the age of 18 it's regarded by the PC brigade as a crime.

outandabout

Maybe the sub editor used "girl" rather than "woman" in the headline to make sure the headline fit the page.

snubbleste

Horsebox_twenty wrote: »

Aside from the legality of it, why would something like this even bother you at all, unless you wanted it to? Are you on the lookout for something to complain about in a newspaper? There are better options than this story out there for you if you are...

If this was a 18 year old male, the headline would refer to a man rather than a boy.
I just think it's misleading and inaccurate, it only serves to sensationalise the story and draw attention. Most people would see the headline and think of a girl as a person who is has not reached the status of an adult.
And yes there are far more inaccurate stories out there.

jdivision

Girl refers to a woman of any age up to about 30. It's not a legally defined term. Ridiculous to suggest a complaint to the Press Council.

Thinspired

snubbleste wrote: »

...it only serves to sensationalise the story and draw attention...

Er, isn't that the whole point of a headline?