Can I make an anonymous Press Complaint in Ireland?

Slideshowbob

Press Ombudsman site states:

While we will usually publish the names of the parties involved, you may request that your name is not included in any published decision if you would prefer to remain anonymous.

Online form asks for name, number and email.
UK commission states:

When we write to the editor we will have to identify you (unless there are exceptional circumstances). If you do not wish for your address details to be passed on to the newspaper or magazine, please say so at the outset of the complaint. However, you may remain anonymous in any public ruling or summary of your case.

Can anyone advise? I don't want the paper/journalist/editor to have my details.

copacetic

no, you can ask for your name not to be published with the decision, but the people on the receiving end of the complaint are entitled to know who the complainer is.

Slideshowbob

why is my name required if it could be considered a legitimate complaint?

copacetic

I can think of many reasons they might require a name, but don't know for sure what their reason actually is. I understand the first step in a complaint is to contact the editor and wait for their response for instance.

santosubito

Slideshowbob wrote: »

why is my name required if it could be considered a legitimate complaint?

Well, how is it in any way fair for you to make a complaint and hide behind a cloak of anonymity?
The Ombudsman regularly withholds the name of a complainant when it publishes its decision and that's all fine. But to suggest that you can make a complaint that could affect a reporter's career and not even give your name really is too much.
How are your allegations going to be tested if the reporter who has to defend his/her actions is unaware of who is making the allegations?

Slideshowbob

santosubito wrote: »

Well, how is it in any way fair for you to make a complaint and hide behind a cloak of anonymity?
The Ombudsman regularly withholds the name of a complainant when it publishes its decision and that's all fine. But to suggest that you can make a complaint that could affect a reporter's career and not even give your name really is too much.
How are your allegations going to be tested if the reporter who has to defend his/her actions is unaware of who is making the allegations?

I'm Joe Public, a customer who buys the paper.

I am not required to give such details to purchase the newspaper.

And don't give me the "if you don't like the content don't buy it" line.

The Ombudsman could test the allegation without my name.

The allegation could stand on its own merits.

Anyway, it may not be specifically against a particular journalist, it may be against the paper's policy or the editorial policy. Are they not answerable to Joe Public in general as customers??

BrianD

Why would you not include your name and address? If the complaint is valid then you should be prepared to stand over it.

If anonymous complaints were allowed, the various complaints commissions would be innundated with spurious and vexatious complaints.

Anyway you have to complain to the Editor of the newspaper first before proceeding to the Ombudsman.

jdivision

A paper's editorial policy is its own choice. Newspapers have no obligation to remain impartial.

James Jones

You have to give your name because you can only complain about matters that affect you personally.

IRE60

"it may be against the paper's policy or the editorial policy"

So basically your saying that you don't like a particular tack a publication has taken and want the Press complaints to start probing the papers policy!! That sounds like a flaky complaint in the first place. Secondly you wan't to make a complaint, costing the industry €'s to investigate, but want to hide your identity? Its a bit spineless to be honest - why don't you stand over the strength of your convictions?

Slideshowbob

Well seeing as I seem to be barking up the wrong tree by going route 1, I'll outline my issue here and see if anyone has an opinion on it.

I find it untruthful for the Irish Independent to be carrying a "diary" by Irish professional cyclist Nicolas Roche, eg:

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/nicolas-roche-lsquoi-radioed-in-to-say-sorry-for-my-bad-sprintrsquo-2588859.html

It appears according to the thread below the articles are written by a ghost writer yet at no stage this is made apparent to the average reader:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056202466

Any thoughts? Is this normal carry on for a newspaper? Should a ghost writer not be credited or acknowledged??

And no requirement for quips about cyclists cheating with drugs so why wouldn't they cheat with reportage thanks

IRE60

In many circumstances its very normal to have a sports writer to 'be in conversation' with another journalist who essentially moulds the words and the personality takes the byline.

Not in all cases, I stress, but say in a case where a sports person does a column directly after a game - in many cases its actually impossible that that person would be able to sit at a laptop and complete that task - so a phone interview is done instead.

But back to the substantive issue which has become clearer.

You want to get the Press Complaints Commission involved, in an internal and basically 'semantic' issue (ie define written by - conclusively) and, more importantly, on the back of hearsay through a thread on the boards and least we should forget, wish to remain in the shadows of this complaint.

Are you going to trawl all the hearsay remarks elsewhere and find anyone else involved in theses treasonous acts?

Do you really think that Jordan actually sits at a laptop and physically writes for Heat (or whoever it is).

Where is your pogrom going to stop?

You are having a laugh.

Dodge

IRE60 wrote: »

Secondly you wan't to make a complaint, costing the industry €'s to investigate, but want to hide your identity?

Slightly off topic but I hope you're not involved in the newspaper industry

IRE60

Very off topic, but if you want to get pedantic about grammar:

"Slightly off topic, but I hope you're not involved in the newspaper industry"

Dodge

Luckily for all, I'm not.

expectationlost

IRE60 wrote: »

In many circumstances its very normal to have a sports writer to 'be in conversation' with another journalist who essentially moulds the words and the personality takes the byline.

Not in all cases, I stress, but say in a case where a sports person does a column directly after a game - in many cases its actually impossible that that person would be able to sit at a laptop and complete that task - so a phone interview is done instead.

But back to the substantive issue which has become clearer.

You want to get the Press Complaints Commission involved, in an internal and basically 'semantic' issue (ie define written by - conclusively) and, more importantly, on the back of hearsay through a thread on the boards and least we should forget, wish to remain in the shadows of this complaint.

Are you going to trawl all the hearsay remarks elsewhere and find anyone else involved in theses treasonous acts?

Do you really think that Jordan actually sits at a laptop and physically writes for Heat (or whoever it is).

Where is your pogrom going to stop?

You are having a laugh.

yes indulge low standards that's the way IRE60

Slideshowbob

IRE60 wrote: »

In many circumstances its very normal to have a sports writer to 'be in conversation' with another journalist who essentially moulds the words and the personality takes the byline.

Not in all cases, I stress, but say in a case where a sports person does a column directly after a game - in many cases its actually impossible that that person would be able to sit at a laptop and complete that task - so a phone interview is done instead.

But back to the substantive issue which has become clearer.

You want to get the Press Complaints Commission involved, in an internal and basically 'semantic' issue (ie define written by - conclusively) and, more importantly, on the back of hearsay through a thread on the boards and least we should forget, wish to remain in the shadows of this complaint.

Are you going to trawl all the hearsay remarks elsewhere and find anyone else involved in theses treasonous acts?

Do you really think that Jordan actually sits at a laptop and physically writes for Heat (or whoever it is).

Where is your pogrom going to stop?

You are having a laugh.

I am well aware what's possible and not after sports events thanks - that's part of my gripe!!

Can what is said on boards not be held libelous??? news to me - please elaborate !!

Won't be trawling everything thanks for the suggestion though!:rolleyes: I only really care about the reportage of cycling in national press at the mo!

Dont know much about Jordan and that Heat magazine, but thanks for the erringly accurate comparison :rolleyes:

jeeez had to look up pogrom there - if its what I think it means I wont be stopping my crankism until I deem appropriate and certainly not at your suggestion.

Define "written by"?? I won't take that instruction seriously unless I know it was truely written by you

Finally not laughing at the moment having to justify my opinion !!!

put that in your pipe and smoke it

IRE60

I see you are getting a bit confused and you seem to be misinterpreting some of the points made!
For example, the topic of liable has now been introduced, which was never mentioned before.
So, I think I personally will pull the handbrake on this one as its totally drifting for the original point.

Mr. Presentable

Re Nick Roche's column being ghostwritten and the requirement from you for clarity, who is behind Slideshowbob? Why is his real name not in his sig?

niceonetom

Seems to me there are some pretty good reasons why anonymous complaints shouldn't have to entertained. If they were it would open the floodgates for every crank, loon and troll nursing a personal grudge against a paper or journo, or even a subject or editorial stance... and they could make an unlimited number of anonymous complaints, thereby engineering the illusion of public outcry where is none beyond the rantings of one motivated keyboard warrior.

If complainants are required to attach their names to a gripe, they might also feel the need to ask themselves: is this a reasonable complaint? Or, in the cold light of public opinion, is it petty? Motivated by an unrelated grievance with the author (real or purported)? Perhaps a little disproportionate? Or just plain silly? If the complainant isn't sure enough to attach their name to a complaint why is there any reason to assume the complaint has merit?

The system, as it stands, would seem to me to ensure some self-imposed quality-control for complaints - a control that the OP perhaps isn't sure enough that his particular gripe passes. What other reason could there be for needing anonymity? Non-specific paranoia? Fear that the Irish cycling media's boot boys might hunt him down and drag him from his bed in the middle of the night?

I think the diary is great btw. Chapeau to the author, whomever he may be.

BrianD

Slideshowbob wrote: »

I am well aware what's possible and not after sports events thanks - that's part of my gripe!!

Can what is said on boards not be held libelous??? news to me - please elaborate !!

Won't be trawling everything thanks for the suggestion though!:rolleyes: I only really care about the reportage of cycling in national press at the mo!

Dont know much about Jordan and that Heat magazine, but thanks for the erringly accurate comparison :rolleyes:

jeeez had to look up pogrom there - if its what I think it means I wont be stopping my crankism until I deem appropriate and certainly not at your suggestion.

Define "written by"?? I won't take that instruction seriously unless I know it was truely written by you

Finally not laughing at the moment having to justify my opinion !!!

put that in your pipe and smoke it

I suggest that you write to the paper and ask them who writes the column.

It can't be a complaint until they confirm or deny it.

Quite often well known people will be asked to write for a paper despite having no writing skills. The paper will then have somebody to assist them write the article. How far the editing goes will vary. It may well be a tell us your opinions and what you want to say and we'll write it for you.

RGDATA!

Given the nature of your complaint (I don't think it's outlandish or sensitive) I don't really see why you couldn't just put it to the editor in writing but ask that it not be published. (Unless you somehow know the editor or someone on the staff and don't want to be seen to complain).

Personally I prefer papers to flag ghostwritten stuff, but I assume from the outset that most athlete's columns are ghosted.
The likes of the Guardian might give the sportsman the byline but usually have the footnote "In conversation with" or "as told to" [actual writer's name].

ISAW

BrianD wrote: »

I suggest that you write to the paper and ask them who writes the column.

Or write to the NUJ chapter leader and ask why their members effort isn't being acknowleged?

I'm reminded of the "party guy " back in the noughties who had a column and later admitted he was out of his face most of the time and someone else wrote it. i remember Gavin Lambe-Murphy.

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/the-phoney-cocaine-blame-game-1241626.html

Thankfully, Gavin learned his lesson in time -- although when he tells the Irish Daily Mail's readers that, while on cocaine, "you talk nonsense but believe you make sense," and that "to others you are very, very boring," you do have to wonder if he has mistaken the symptoms of cocaine addiction with the symptoms of simply being Gavin Lambe-Murphy.

Quite often well known people will be asked to write for a paper despite having no writing skills. The paper will then have somebody to assist them write the article. How far the editing goes will vary. It may well be a tell us your opinions and what you want to say and we'll write it for you.

And there was a bunch of girls called the o3 crew or something. did they write it themselves and what was so important about it? It is all part of a broader picture of lack of core values and the culture of self interest. People who cared more about Buffy or Big Brother than about real people. Virtual communities are easier to leave dump or manufacture. Reminds me of a chomsky story ~ What makes the mainstream media mainstream written for Z magazine in the nineties.

Here it is: http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199710--.htm

http://readingsilk.livejournal.com/1953.html
# What is the Media’s internal institutional structure?
# How does the Media relate to other systems of power and authority?
# What do the media communicate within its own power structure?

But how do the media create a doctrinal framework for the justification of this subservience? Chomsky points to three relevant currents to look at:

1. The propaganda industry which turns the general population into spectators not participants.
2. The information industry which turns public intellectuals into prophets of corporal belief systems.
3. The academic industry which turns public institutions into corporal belief system providers.

The whole "bike columnist" can be see as part of

The real mass media are basically trying to divert people. Let them do something else, but don’t bother us (us being the people who run the show). Let them get interested in professional sports, for example. Let everybody be crazed about professional sports or sex scandals or the personalities and their problems or something like that. Anything, as long as it isn’t serious. Of course, the serious stuff is for the big guys. "We" take care of that.

santosubito

Is it definitely ghostwritten? Does he not write his own blog?

IRE60

That's the first point- the original poster was going to drag in the press complaints on the back of a posting on the boards by someone who suggested is was ghosted.

crazym02

This is why I am glad that people cannot complain anonymously to such organisations. Anonymous complaints are never and should never be taken seriously, because if the complainer were genuinely concerned, they would be willing to prove who they are and not hide behind anonymity.

Slideshowbob

Are u anonomous on here? Is that a genuine comment?;)