Variety of complaints to Press Council

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33516, 23 April 1974, Page 12

Variety of complaints to Press Council

f.V.Z. Press Association WELLINGTON. April 22. There was no room for any contention that the New Zealand Press Council was weighted in favour of newspapers, said the independent chairman (Sir Allred North) in his first annual report. j “I can say with complete !sincerity that the calibre of! ithe members of the council • and its executive secretary 'has ensured that the complaints which have come; • before it were examined • 'objectively and with great jCare,” he said. This had rendered his task as chairman both pleasant; land rewarding. When it was decided to' form a press council in New; Zealand, the British system was studied. This had helped to avoid some, initial pitfalls. ; l "Our Constitution, which i closely follows the revised. British articles, provides for I; a chairman unconnected 1 with the industry, and for: the appointment of a person of standing to represent the:; point of view of the man in? the street,’’ Sir Alfred North : 'said. With the aid of a chair-i ; man’s casting vote in a’ ■moment of crisis, the chair-,: man and the representative? • of the public could outvote i jthe representatives of the in - - dustry and the journalists. The more important com-il plaints considered covered a? large and diverse range. In'l the main, the council had been concerned with com- 1 plaints by persons and organisations against certain,; .newspapers — particularly! iweekly journals. '■ ; “But on two occasions they council was called upon to’ 1

consider whether there wa> any substance in allegations by two provincial mayors that certain journalist-- had acted unfairly in reporting on local affairs." Sir Alfred North said. On both occasions the council found that the alivgations lacked validity. LACK ()l POWI R These two complaints illustrated that, in considering whether an outsider (usually a person in authority) had unfairly attacked the press. Ithe council had no power to require him to appear before lit to justify his contentions "Nevertheless, the Press • Council is charged with the • duty not. merely of dealing with complaints about the press, but also with complaints directed to the conduct of persons and organisations towards the press," he said. If the council was to perform this important part of its functions, it must act as • best it could on the material 'available to it. “We cannot hope to :please everyone. On matters such as sex and nudity, and their treatment by certain newspapers, strong views are held by large sections of the community. These we • find differ considerably,’" • said Sir Alfred North. A press council had a difficult task trying to maintain “the delicate balance of; forces that is needed to' make standards effective, without being suppressive." Success could only come from experience and not from the application of a formula settled in advance. “We have been gratified to learn that the work of the council is increasinglyappreciated both by the newspaper publishers and by; working journalists. So far as the public is concerned’ we hope in the course of

time to gain their trust t• -n--fidence and ii'-pec', S;i Alfred Nnrri. -a d 1 E\\ IIAII 11 S In its first \ ar. the pre'' council dealt with about 300 .omplaints and inquir.ev In mam instances it had been possib e lot 'he set n iarc i• • deal wnh them with•ut wailing foi :t Conner meeting. A relatively small number of complaint.-- had been re reived against daily newspapers and it had been particularly plea'ing :<■ -lie council that few hail alleged inaccuracy or distort ion. On questions of indent} or obscenity, the cuimci! believed the courts should rule on such issues However, the council was expected io maintain the character of the New Zealand press in accordance with the highest professional standards and it did not intend to shirk this responsibility .