Case against ‘Dominion’ fails

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 36

Case against ‘Dominion’ fails

PA Wellington The Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Mr J. F. Williams, of Christchurch, against the “Dominion.” Mr Williams was critical of a feature article on North Korea published by the “Dominion” on July 22. 5 in a letter of complaint to the editor, he claimed the feature article was “utter nonsense” and set out in detail various statements in the article which he considered wrong. The “Dominion,” in reply, told Mr Williams his letter did not lend itself easily to publication because of its frequent references to photocopied material accompanying it. However, many of the points raised by Mr Williams would be covered in the correspon-

dence the “Dominion” intended to publish. Mr Williams then complained to the Press Council that he did hot consider either the reply sent to him, or the newspaper’s subsequent action, satisfactory. To the best of his knowledge, the “Dominion” had published only a single letter, on August 21, giving a correcting opinion on the feature article. Responding to the complaint, the “Dominion” told the Press Council the letter from Mr Williams arrived on the same day as two others on the same subject, all from Christchurch where the “Dominion” had only a small circulation. Despite this, coincidence, it was decided to publish two letters and both appeared on August

21. The one from .Mr Williams was not used. for the reason ; politely advised to him, but his points were largely covered in the two published letters. There was no justification for Mr Williams’s request that a retractioh of the article be published. The Press Council said publication by newspapers of feature : articles: ex--, pressing particular viewpoints was commonplace, and the fact that some readers disagreed with the did not, mean the articles should not been published., \ , The “Dominion” had > published two out of three critical letters received,, and this met the situation. The “Dominion” was not obliged 'to publish every critical letter sent ’ to it.