Telegraph failed to separate fact from opinion in cycle path coverage, rules press watchdog
The Daily Telegraph in Sydney breached the Australian Press Council’s principles on separating fact and opinion in its campaigning coverage of Sydney’s cycle paths.
The APC ruled in relation to 17 articles relating to Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, who is also a state MP. The coverage focused on the bike lanes and also on her dual political roles.
The complainant said the newspaper had provided unfair and unbalanced coverage of both issues.
The newspaper argued that it was entitled to campaign on both topics.
what is the point of these rulings if there’s no punishment associated?
Oh enough already. The Telegraph or any paper for that matter is a privately produced product which is optional to buy. If they defame you, you can sue them.
If you don’t like what they say, tough. Or start your own paper.
The trouble with the Clover Moores of this world is that they perceive private property as public infrastructure, with all the obligations that implies. It’s an old 1970’s neo-socialist viewpoint, rather like complaining to the Politburo about articles in Pravda.
So Clover here’s the late-breaking news: you live in a modern democracy where newspapers can say anything they damned well like so long as they don’t defame anybody.
Get over yourself.
If the Tele put as much effort into promoting the cycle paths as they do bashing them they might find fewer opportunities to photograph empty cycle paths. I was personally disgusted by the counter productive coverage – all over the world cities are trying to be proactive about reducing congestion and helping the environment and Sydney’s major publication decided to respond to progress by getting in the way of it.
Oh look, another gumming from the Toothless Tiger.