Herald Sun censured for failure to seek comment from West Coast Eagles over drug allegations
News Corp’s Herald Sun has been censured by the Australian Press Council over its ‘Eagles Drug Hell’ article for failing to seek comment from the West Coast Eagles prior to publication.
The article ran in print on October 1 last year with the headline ‘Eagles Drug Hell’ and published online on September 30 with the headline ‘Daniel Chick breaks silence about drug culture at West Coast Eagles’.
It appeared just before the club’s appearance in the 2015 AFL Grand Final and featured claims by former player, Daniel Chick, of substance abuse while he was playing for the club.
The West Coast Eagles told the Press Council the article was inaccurate and lacked fairness and that the newspaper had “made no attempt to contact the club or its medical staff for comment prior to publication”.
The club said that when it was approached for comment after publication it was unable to respond adequately because it was in the midst of its preparations for the Grand Final.
The Herald Sun defended the article, stating it presented the comments made by Chick as “claims” and that the club had a well-documented drug culture at the time.
It said it had no reason to doubt Chick’s credibility in these matters.
The newspaper said it did not approach the West Coast Eagles with Chick’s allegations “as it was concerned that the club might intimidate” the player “or seek to prevent the article from being published”.
The publication said the club’s denials had been published that same day online and in articles in the newspaper the following day.
According to the Herald Sun, the newspaper called the club’s doctor the day after publication to give him an opportunity to respond; however, when asked about the claims, the doctor hung up on the reporter.
It was the Press Council’s view that as it had been speaking with Chick for some time prior to publication, it should have sought comment before publication “given the seriousness of the allegations, their timing and prominence”.
The Council considered the newspaper failed to take reasonable steps to present the material with fairness and balance and thus the complaint was upheld.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
Linkedin