Re: Told you the PCC was toothless. Parris adjudication.

spindrift wrote:

PCC Ruling

Various v The Times
...

As such, while noting the anger the article had caused, the question
for the Commission to answer was whether it was in breach of the
Code. It concluded that it was not.

With regard to Clause 1 (Accuracy), ...
...the Commission
considered that the newspaper had sufficiently distinguished
conjecture from fact. It was undoubtedly the columnist’s opinion that
cyclists were responsible for the littering he had encountered; he was
entitled to present his view robustly.

A victory for free speech.

Some complainants had sought to engage Clause 4 (Harassment)...
.... However, the Commission emphasised that this part
of the Code relates to the physical behaviour of journalists and not
to published material.

Fair enough.

The third Clause of the Code identified by a number of complaints was
Clause 12 (Discrimination). Here too, however, there could be no
breach. Clause 12 lists a number of things that the press must not
refer to pejoratively when talking about an individual: race, colour,
religion, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental illness or
disability. Preferred method of transport is not included in the
list.

Fair enough.

Some complainants, as well as referring to specific Clauses of the
Code of Practice, had cited the preamble to the Code in their
submissions. ...
... Since the Commission had found the
article not to breach any of those Clauses, it concluded that there
was no breach of the Code of Practice overall.

Fair enough.

The fact that
complainants had obviously found the piece highly distasteful was not
a matter for the PCC since questions of taste fall outside its remit.

Conclusion: Arrogant humourless whiners cannot be allowed to suppress free speech in British newspapers - perhaps?

--
Matt B
.

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