Resolution
Statement – 06352-21 Highy v windsorobserver.co.uk
Summary
of Complaint
1. Philip
Highy complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that
windsorobserver.co.uk breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of
Practice in an article headlined “THE Queen’s birthday honours have been
revealed -- and ten people from Berkshire have received commendations”,
published on 12th June 2021.
2. The
article reported on the Queen’s birthday honours, celebrating the success of
individuals from Berkshire. It stated that “[o]f those from the Royal county
OBEs have been given to people for services in tackling the coronavirus
pandemic, decarbonising air travel, supporting disabled people and more”. It
went on to include a full list of everyone from Berkshire who was honoured,
reporting that Lynne and Philip Highy had received awards “for services to the
community in Eton and Eton Wick during the covid-19 pandemic”.
3. The
complainant said that the article was inaccurate in breach of Clause 1. He said
that he and Lynne Highy had been awarded British Empire Medals, and that the
article had inaccurately stated they had been awarded OBEs.
4. The
publication accepted that it had, due to human error, incorrectly included
Lynne and Philip Highy on the list of individuals who had been awarded OBEs.
Whilst the publication accepted that it had inaccurately reported the awards
Lynne and Philip Highy received, it did not accept that this rendered the
article wholly misleading. It added that once it was made aware of the mistake,
it had amended the article accordingly.
Relevant
Code Provisions
Clause 1
(Accuracy)
i) The
Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted
information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.
ii) A
significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected,
promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology
published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the
regulator.
iii) A
fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when
reasonably called for.
iv) The
Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly
between comment, conjecture and fact.
Mediated
Outcome
5. The
complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties.
IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.
6.
During IPSO’s investigation the publication offered to publish the following
correction:
On June
12, 2021, windsorobserver.co.uk published an article containing the names of a
number of people who received an honour for the Queen’s birthday. A mistake was
made in this article and both Philip and Lynne Highy were listed as having
received OBEs. This was inaccurate as both Mr and Mrs Highy received British
Empire Medals. Although this article was soon corrected at the time of
publication, we are happy to issue a further clarification. We apologise to Mr
and Mrs Highy for any confusion and upset this article may have caused.
7. The
complainant said that this would resolve the matter to his 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: 14/06/21
Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 11/10/21
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