Fairfax apologises for naming ex-con who ‘requested’ anonymity in ‘Life after prison’ story
Fairfax Media has apologised after naming a convicted murderer it had interviewed on condition of anonymity for an in-depth feature article on adapting to life after prison.
The error happened in the print version of the article ‘Life After Prison: one man’s story’, the cover article in Saturday’s Good Weekend magazine, which followed his first six months of life after release from prison.
In the piece by Tim Elliott the main protagonist is referred to as ‘Samson’ throughout, with the explainer his “name has been changed at his request, along with others in the story”.
However, in the print version one paragraph refers to Samson by his real name, which Mumbrella has chosen not to republish. It has been altered in the online version.
However in a statement to Mumbrella, Fairfax claims “we decided to change the subject’s name”.
The full statement reads:
“We deeply regret this serious error made in the process of production. We decided to change the subject’s name out of respect for the subject and make no excuse for the error.”
Fairfax has been approached for clarification.
The article carries many biographical details of Samson’s life, including place and year of birth and the fact he has two daughters, and also features a detailed description of him:
Samson has a broad brown face and anxious eyes; his head, closely shaved and shiny, appears the colour and approximate density of polished mahogany. He swears hugely and is amply muscled: covering his left biceps is a tattoo of crossed spears and a bird of paradise that, as I later learn, he inked himself while inside, using a sharpened guitar wire.”
It is understood the author had penned the piece with Samson’s original name before it was altered in the editing process, with one reference to him missed.
The error comes at a time when the subject of journalists protecting sources and confidences has been debated in the industry, following former editor of The Australian Chris Mitchell’s publication of candid conversations with several former Prime Ministers in his new book.
This reads as if “Samson” undertook the interview with no intention of anonymity. It was subsequently Fairfax’s own decision to alter his name.
Therefore, while still an embarrassing gaff, it’s not really an issue as anonymity wasn’t originally requested. Is that correct?
Something Fairfax should still be slapped for though, as the outcome in a different case could have been a lot worse – potentially life threatening!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZZ8NaEykeM
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Tim Elliot is a good journo. The more you write, the greater the chance of a clanger. At our publication I did a trial for two issues (we run about 50 pages of magazine a month) and had two experienced sub editors sub exactly the same texts. They both missed things, and between the two of them some typos still escaped. So these things do happen, and ‘Sampson’ lost the right to privacy the day he was CONVICTED……
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