[xlr82nil8]

Hi All,
It seems that frequently Road Traffic Incidents involving motorcyclists are presented in the media in a biased and sometimes sensationalist manner.
We're all familiar with the "high powered motorbike slammed into car" type reporting, when in fact it is frequently the car driver which caused the incident through pulling out in front of the motorcyclist.

I think it's time we actually raised awareness and passed this information on in an organised and concerted manner to those involved, i.e.

Who To Contact:
A.) The specific reporter(s)
B.) The publication / news outlet the piece was published/broadcast in/on.
C.) The National Union of Journalists (info@nuj.ie) - see below.
D.) If it was broadcast - the Broadcast Complaints Commision. (complaints@bcc.ie) - see below
E.) If it was published - the Press Complaints Comission. - Ha! We don't have one yet! According to this article in the Irish Times - there's a committee being appointed to choose a Press Council who will oversee the PCC.

What To Do:
When you come across, what is in your opinion, biased or possibly inaccurate reporting of an incident:
1) Post to this thread the name of the Author, the Publication/Broadcast, including date, & page number or time of broadcast; include direct quotes if possible of what was printed/said or a link to the source material.

2) Email persons A-E (from above) informing them of your complaint, including the information from 1 above.

3) Include in your email a reference and/or quote of the following from the NUJ Code of Conduct:

" 1. A journalist has a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.
...
3. A journalist shall strive to ensure that the information he/she disseminates is fair and accurate, avoid the expression of comment and conjecture as established fact and falsification by distortion, selection or misrepresentation.
4. A journalist shall rectify promptly any harmful inaccuracies, ensure that correction and apologies receive due prominence and afford the right of reply to persons criticised when the issue is of sufficient importance.
..."




For Reference, Contact Details

NUJ Ireland Office:
" Irish Office
Spencer House
Spencer Row, Off Store Street
Dublin 1

Phone 00 353 (0)1 8170340/8170341
Fax 00 353 (0)1 8170359
e-mail: info@nuj.ie "

Broadcasting Complaints Commission:
" Broadcasting Complaints Commission,
2 - 5 Warrington Place,
Dublin 2.

Tel: 01 676 1097
Fax: 01 676 0948
Email: info@bcc.ie

When making a complaint you can e-mail the completed complaint form to: complaints@bcc.ie. Alternatively, you can download a copy of the form and send it to us at the address listed above."



journAlist

[Raphael]

Press Council of Ireland

How to make a complaint?

--



Thank you
Raphael

This post has been edited by xlr82nil8: 16 December 2007 - 10:19 PM
Reason for edit: Removed hyper link to stale thread