‘Press Council got it wrong’: Herald Sun rejects ‘Eagles Drug Hell’ ruling
News Corp’s Herald Sun has shot back at the Australian Press Council’s reprimand that it had failed to seek comment from the West Coast Eagles over drug allegations, arguing that the ruling is “an example of the watchdog stepping outside its remit”.
In an editorial published last night, the Herald Sun said the ‘Eagles Drug Hell story’, which was published online on September 30 and ran in the newspaper on October 1, “was an important story”.
The article 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 Australian Press Council has upheld a complaint from the West Coast Eagles, with the Press Council ruling the newspaper should have sought comment from the club before publication “given the seriousness of the allegations, their timing and prominence”.
The newspaper has rejected this stance in the editorial headlined ‘Press Council got it wrong’.
It states: “It was the first time the premiership star had spoken about his time at the West Coast Eagles, a club then gripped by a rampant drug culture.
“Chick, a courageous Eagle credited with helping win the 2006 premiership, confronted his own demons to tell his version of events to the Herald Sun. It was an important story and one he had waited almost a decade to tell.”
The editorial explains the publication worked with Chick “for almost a year” in preparing the report which was “in the public interest to expose how football clubs, charged with raising young men, can in fact, let those very same young men down”.
The newspaper defended its decision not to approach the club for comment prior to publication arguing it was concerned the club would intimidate Chick for speaking or go to court to “launch legal action in an attempt to silence Chick and the Herald Sun”.
The editorial continues by arguing Chick was entitled to tell his side of the story given that the club and many other key players had already told theirs.
“The Press Council’s inclusion of the timing of our report in its findings suggests this is a classic case of mission creep by a regulator,” the editorial reads.
“This is transparently absurd and an example of the watchdog stepping outside its remit.
“In our view, there was a never a more relevant time to break the story than two days before the club played in the biggest game of the year.
“It begs the question: does the council believe stories critical of political parties should not run close to an election?”
The Herald Sun states that it: “disagrees with the Australian Press Council and believes it has overreached with its finding”.
“News can sometimes make for uncomfortable reading. It’s timing can be awkward.
“But none of this means a free media should be censured because a report — both accurate and in the public interest — upset a sporting club before a game, even if it is the Grand Final,” it concludes.
Miranda Ward worked for Mumbrella from 2013 to 2017, eventually becoming deputy editor. Miranda joined Mumbrella in September 2013 from Sky News.
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If only the press council had actual powers to hold the media responsible for spreading disinformation / slander. They don’t even cast a slap on the wrist to parties they find guilty.
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@Big Sticks – In what way has the Herald Sun spread disinformation/slander with this report? They reported the allegations of a primary source. The criticism from the Press Council related to the timing of the report and the paper’s decision not to seek comment from the club before publishing.
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Big Sticks?!? You were no where near them – that comment was out-of-bounds on the full.
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