Australian Press Council
Statement of Principles
To help the public and the press, the Australian Press Council has laid down
the broad principles to which it is committed.
First the freedom of the press to the publish is the freedom of the people
to be informed. This is the justification for upholding press freedom as
an essential feature of a democratic society. This freedom, won in centuries
of struggle against political and commercial interests, includes the rights
of a newspaper to publish what it reasonably considers to be news, without
fear or favour, and the right to comment fairly upon it.
Second, the freedom the press is important more because of the obligation
it entails towards the people than because of the fights it gives to the
press. Freedom of the press carries with it an equivalent responsibility
to the public. Liberty does not mean licence. Thus, in dealing with complaints,
the Council will give first and dominant consideration to what it perceives
to be in the public interest.
The Council does not lay down rules by which publications should govern
themselves. However, in considering complaints, the Council will have regard
for these general principles.
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Newspapers and magazines (“publications”) should not publish what
they know or could reasonably be expected to know is false, or fail to take
reasonable steps to check the accuracy of what they report.
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A publication should make amends for publishing information that is found
to be harmfully inaccurate by printing, promptly and with appropriate prominence,
such retraction, correction, explanation or apology as will neutralise the
damage as far as possible.
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Readers of publications are entitled to have news and comments presented
to them honestly and fairly, and with respect for the privacy and sensibilities
of individuals. However, the right of privacy should not prevent the publication
of matters of public record or obvious or significant public interest. Rumour
and unconfirmed reports, if published at all, should be identified as such.
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News obtained by dishonest or unfair means, or the publication of which would
involve a breach of confidence, should not be published unless there is an
over-riding public interest.
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A publication is justified in strongly advocating its own views on controversial
topics provided that it treats readers fairly by:
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making fact and opinion clearly distinguishable;
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not misrepresenting or suppressing relevant facts;
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not distorting the facts in text, headlines, pictures, billboards or posters;
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disclosing any commercial or other interest which might be construed as
influencing the publication’s presentation of news or opinions.
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A publication has a wide discretion in matters of taste, but this does not
justify lapses of taste so repugnant as to be extremely offensive to its
readership.
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Publications should not place any gratuitous emphasis on the race, religion,
nationality, colour, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital
status, disability, illness or age of an individual or group. Nevertheless,
where it is relevant and in the public interest, publications may report
and express opinions in these areas.
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Where individuals or groups are singled out for criticism, the publication
should ensure fairness and balance in the original article. Failing that,
it should provide a reasonable and swift opportunity for a balancing response
in the appropriate section of the publication.
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Where the Council issues an adjudication, the publication concerned should
prominently print the adjudication.
The Council strives to ensure that its adjudications on complaints reflect
both the conscience of the press and the legitimate expectations of the public.
October 1996