The Manitoba Press Council has been asked to investigate a complaint by a man who was scorned by the Winnipeg Free Press after asking the newspaper to address the distorted use of a photo of him.
Used in conjunction with a story of public disorder at a "Zombie" walk, and clearly identifiable in the picture while posing on the hood of his brother's car for a stunt photo, readers were left with the impression police had been called on the man while he participated in the march.
The Press Council is a virtually invisible media watchdog, and lists only 4 complaints lodged against Manitoba papers in the past 4 years. Three, including one against the Free Press, were dismissed. The Free Press is listed as one of 51 members.
The MPC website describes its work this way:
As a non-judicial, non-government review board, the Manitoba Press Council’s main objectives are:
To consider complaints against its member newspapers. In a decision, the council outlines why a complaint is upheld or denied and makes the findings public. (It costs nothing to complain and you do not need a lawyer or anyone else to represent you.)
To encourage ethical and professional standards of journalism
To serve as a medium of understanding between the public and press
To help preserve the freedom of the press as an extension of freedom of expression in a democratic society.
The procedure for investigation includes:
PART I
1. All complaints to the Manitoba Press Council shall be made in writing. Name, address, phone number and email address should be included.
2. Complaints must be against specific instances of conduct of the newspaper against which the complaint is laid. A copy of the offending article(s) must be included.
3. The newspaper against which the complaint is laid must have been given an opportunity to redress the complaint to the satisfaction of the complainant before the Council will investigate.
4. On receipt of a complaint, the Executive Secretary will forward it to the newspaper involved and advise the newspaper and the complainant that they should try to resolve the matter directly.
5. A published Letter to the Editor, an apology, or an explanation from the publisher or senior editor may resolve the concern.
6. If there is neither action towards agreement nor resolution of the problem within 14 days, the Council will decide on the evidence available to it whether or not to proceed with adjudication. Additional time may be allowed if warranted and at the discretion of the Council. The Council may approach the newspaper seeking mediation in some cases.
If the matter goes to a hearing, the Free Press would have to consent in writing, to media coverage of the testimony. And, as a member of the agency, the broadsheet is bound to publish the findings of the hearing, for their own readers to see.
"In general terms, the values expected from newspapers by the Manitoba Press Council include enlightening the public, independence, accuracy, truthfulness, impartiality, fair play, decency, and a clear separation of news and commentary."
The complaint, which was accompanied by all the emails between Free Press officials and the complainant, is reprinted below:
(personal information withheld)
November 18, 2009
Manitoba Press Council
101-2033 Portage Ave.
Winnipeg, MB R3J OK8
Dear Manitoba Press Council:
I am writing on my own behalf.
On Tuesday, October 27, 2009, the Winnipeg Free Press ran a picture of me to illustrate a story headlined "Zombies bit too lively for event's organizers."
The caption under the picture states "Some Zombies got a little too much into character during walk down-town on Sunday night." There can be no mistaking what the newspaper was saying by juxtaposing the photo with the story, namely that the person in Zombie makeup in the photo (me) was one of the partici-pants of the event who had disrupted traffic and scared motorists by climbing on their cars.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The person behind the wheel in the picture is my brother and the person beside him is his girlfriend. They were parked in a private lot. They had called me over and I was performing for their amusement. I wasn't jumping on the hood of a stranger’s vehicle in traffic. I made this clear to various representatives of the Winnipeg Free Press as you will see from the attached emails.
I wasn't breaking any laws, and this misleading link needs to be corrected in the interest of accu-racy. I have asked that the Winnipeg Free Press publish a retraction and a correction of their misstate-ments, as has my mother. Bob Cox, publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press has responded that they will take no further action on this matter.
I draw your attention particularly to a Correction published Wednesday, November 4, 2009, on Page 2 of the Winnipeg Free Press almost immediately after they rebuffed me.
In it, the newspaper acknowledges it was wrong to use an inaccurate photo to illustrate a story about a park-ing lot. An inanimate piece of land they will apologize for misrepresenting; however parking lots do not have a reputation that could be damaged do they?
I look forward to discussing my complaint with your agency further.
Sincerely,
Ryan Porath
Misrepresented Zombie
