SOMETIMES people are angry about the way they have been treated in print, even if what is published is true or largely true.
But in cases where quotes form one side has been left out or people believe they have been misrepresented – or even not given a chance at all to put out their side of a story – an appeal to the Press Council of Ireland can be the best route.
Not all papers are part of the Press Council, but most publications who believe in fairness and accuracy in the news are. The Limerick Post comes under the Press Council banner.
One can complain to the Press Council about material published by media publications who are members, including articles, photographs, headlines, cartoons, podcasts, and audio or video content.
They can also complain about journalistic behaviour. The Press Council cannot consider complaints about social media posts on platforms like Facebook or X, except if the account is operated by a member publication.
A report which is considered unbalanced is a typical case complaint.
For example: A newspaper publishes a piece voicing the anger of residents about the carry-on of the over-60’s ladies hockey team. They say the clubhouse is being used for late-night bawdy, boozy parties and residents can’t get a wink of sleep or keep a bed of daffodils without someone throwing up in it on their way home.
Assuming the above to be true, the club can complain to the Press Council that they weren’t contacted for comment – if indeed that is the case.
If it is the case, a judgement may be delivered against the publisher for breaching the code of conduct, which governs the members of the Press Council and should govern journalistic ethics in any event.
But if a journalist made reasonable efforts through email, telephone calls, or other forms of communications to get the hockey gals’ side of the story and was ignored, or if the hockey gals refused to comment on the grounds that the club is private and the neighbours are just jealous they got no invite to the party, then they are unlikely to garner any sympathy from the Press Council.
Misrepresentation of a person or a situation in the way a written or broadcast piece is presented is also grounds for a complaint around the behaviour of journalists if they insist on sticking their foot in the door, keeping their finger on the doorbell, or persistently annoying the neighbours to know what kind of people live in Number 4 after the residents there have been convicted of stealing milk bottles from doorsteps.
They can, however, report the conviction. The Press Council also upholds freedom of the press.
The Council does not make monetary awards – only the courts can do that. Often complainants go to the Press Council because they just want the record set straight. And sometimes the upset caused by a story would not merit being awarded damages in court, but can still cause hurt and anger.
The Press Council has a published code of conduct which all members agree to abide by.
The Press Council is independent of Government and has 13 members. Seven members, including the chair, are independent members, appointed following a public competition. The remaining six members are drawn from the press industry.
The Press Council appoints the Press Ombudsman following a public competition. It also decides on appeals from decisions of the Press Ombudsman and on complaints referred to it directly by the Press Ombudsman.
A decision on a complaint to the Press Council can be appealed to the Press Ombudsman.
Susan McKay became Ireland’s Press Ombudsman in 2022, the first woman to be appointed to the role, which is now referred to as the Press Ombudsperson. From Derry, she is a writer and an award-winning journalist. In 2023, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Trinity College Dublin.
Instructions on how to make a complaint can be found on the Press Council of Ireland website.
– Court Reporting Scheme