This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2015/jul/06/daily-telegraph-censured-by-ipso-over-false-nicola-sturgeon-story

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Daily Telegraph censured by Ipso over false Nicola Sturgeon story Daily Telegraph censured by Ipso over false Nicola Sturgeon story
(about 1 hour later)
The Daily Telegraph has been censured by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) for publishing an inaccurate front page story about SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during the election campaign.The Daily Telegraph has been censured by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) for publishing an inaccurate front page story about SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon during the election campaign.
The regulator upheld a complaint by Scotland’s first minister about a splash on 4 April headlined “Sturgeon’s secret backing for Cameron”.The regulator upheld a complaint by Scotland’s first minister about a splash on 4 April headlined “Sturgeon’s secret backing for Cameron”.
It reported on the contents of a civil servant’s memo about a private meeting between Sturgeon and the French ambassador in which Sturgeon was alleged to have said she would rather see David Cameron win the general election than Ed Miliband.It reported on the contents of a civil servant’s memo about a private meeting between Sturgeon and the French ambassador in which Sturgeon was alleged to have said she would rather see David Cameron win the general election than Ed Miliband.
Related: Daily Telegraph set for Ipso rebuke over Nicola Sturgeon front-page article
The article suggested that such a comment by Sturgeon undermined her public support for a “progressive alliance” with Miliband. In other words, it accused her of being disingenuous.The article suggested that such a comment by Sturgeon undermined her public support for a “progressive alliance” with Miliband. In other words, it accused her of being disingenuous.
But the paper published the story without having contacted Sturgeon, who later stated that the claims in the memo were categorically untrue. She regarded the newspaper’s decision not to contact her prior to publication as a breach of the editors’ code of practice. Ipso’s complaints committee agreed.But the paper published the story without having contacted Sturgeon, who later stated that the claims in the memo were categorically untrue. She regarded the newspaper’s decision not to contact her prior to publication as a breach of the editors’ code of practice. Ipso’s complaints committee agreed.
It judged that, while the newspaper was entitled to report on the memo’s contents, it had published those contents as fact without checking on their veracity.It judged that, while the newspaper was entitled to report on the memo’s contents, it had published those contents as fact without checking on their veracity.
As a result, said Ipso, the article was significantly misleading. In upholding the complaint, it required the Telegraph to publish the adjudication on page 2 of the newspaper with a front-page reference, and also online.As a result, said Ipso, the article was significantly misleading. In upholding the complaint, it required the Telegraph to publish the adjudication on page 2 of the newspaper with a front-page reference, and also online.
Today’s issue of the Telegraph carries both the page 1 and page 2 items as ordered, and the adjudication can be found here online.Today’s issue of the Telegraph carries both the page 1 and page 2 items as ordered, and the adjudication can be found here online.
Matt Tee, Ipso’s chief executive, said: “Clause 1 of the editors’ code obliges the press to take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information.Matt Tee, Ipso’s chief executive, said: “Clause 1 of the editors’ code obliges the press to take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information.
“This article was significantly misleading because the newspaper had failed to make clear that it did not know whether the account the memorandum presented was true.“This article was significantly misleading because the newspaper had failed to make clear that it did not know whether the account the memorandum presented was true.
“A front-page story such as this needs to be corrected in a prominent way and we have required the Daily Telegraph to publish our adjudication in full on page 2 with a reference on the front page of the newspaper.”“A front-page story such as this needs to be corrected in a prominent way and we have required the Daily Telegraph to publish our adjudication in full on page 2 with a reference on the front page of the newspaper.”
A spokesman at Sturgeon’s office said by email that they “were satisfied with the outcome on the basis that the complaint was upheld, and that the remedial action is about the most that could be expected.”A spokesman at Sturgeon’s office said by email that they “were satisfied with the outcome on the basis that the complaint was upheld, and that the remedial action is about the most that could be expected.”
Sturgeon also issued a statement saying she welcomed Ipso’s “unequivocal verdict” on the Telegraph’s story, and called it “a victory for effective regulation of the press – and for the truth.”Sturgeon also issued a statement saying she welcomed Ipso’s “unequivocal verdict” on the Telegraph’s story, and called it “a victory for effective regulation of the press – and for the truth.”
She said: “The complaint was lodged on the basis that the Telegraph’s conduct in producing this story fell short of the expected journalistic standards. Subsequent events have proven conclusively that the story was entirely untrue, and today’s ruling simply underlines that.”She said: “The complaint was lodged on the basis that the Telegraph’s conduct in producing this story fell short of the expected journalistic standards. Subsequent events have proven conclusively that the story was entirely untrue, and today’s ruling simply underlines that.”
She went on to say that the press has “a vital job to do in scrutinising the work of government and of the political process in general. That is a role which is essential for democracy, and it is scrutiny which I welcome.She went on to say that the press has “a vital job to do in scrutinising the work of government and of the political process in general. That is a role which is essential for democracy, and it is scrutiny which I welcome.
“But that does not mean that the press themselves are above and beyond scrutiny and oversight. They have a duty to ensure, as far as possible, that the stories they present to readers are fair, balanced and – above all – accurate.“But that does not mean that the press themselves are above and beyond scrutiny and oversight. They have a duty to ensure, as far as possible, that the stories they present to readers are fair, balanced and – above all – accurate.
“The Daily Telegraph, in failing to carry out the most elementary of journalistic checks and balances, failed in this case to meet that duty.”“The Daily Telegraph, in failing to carry out the most elementary of journalistic checks and balances, failed in this case to meet that duty.”
The Telegraph claimed in its evidence to Ipso that, having confirmed the authenticity of the memo, the newspaper had no reason to doubt its accuracy.The Telegraph claimed in its evidence to Ipso that, having confirmed the authenticity of the memo, the newspaper had no reason to doubt its accuracy.
On that basis, it felt entitled to publish an accurate account of the document and denied that it was obliged to contact Sturgeon for comment before publication.On that basis, it felt entitled to publish an accurate account of the document and denied that it was obliged to contact Sturgeon for comment before publication.
Ipso’s complaints committee noted that the memo represented – at best – a second-hand account given a week after the meeting. And it contained “the serious implication that Ms Sturgeon had been disingenuous in her public statements.”Ipso’s complaints committee noted that the memo represented – at best – a second-hand account given a week after the meeting. And it contained “the serious implication that Ms Sturgeon had been disingenuous in her public statements.”
The newspaper had therefore published it without knowing whether the memo was accurate.The newspaper had therefore published it without knowing whether the memo was accurate.