Resolution Statement: Complaint 01570-14 Hawk v The Sun

Resolution Statement: Complaint 01570-14 Hawk v The Sun 

Summary of complaint

1. Maddison Hawk complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that The Sun had published an article, headlined “Plastic surgery addict convicted of fraud”, on 15 October 2014, which raised a breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice. 

2. The complainant expressed concern that the newspaper had inaccurately reported that she had been personally convicted of fraud; in fact she had pleaded guilty on behalf of her company. She also said that it was inaccurate to state that she had sold fake hair straighteners to pay for her cosmetic surgery procedures. 

3. The newspaper said that the complainant was the sole director of her company; it was not significantly inaccurate to give the impression that she had been personally convicted. 

Relevant Code Provisions

4. Clause 1 (Accuracy) 

i) The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures. 

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion once recognised must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and – where appropriate – an apology published. 

Mediated outcome

5. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore instigated an investigation into the matter.  

6. The newspaper offered to remove the article from its website. 

7. The complainant agreed that this step would resolve the matter to her satisfaction. 

8. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code. 

Date complaint received: 22/10/2014