Resolution
Statement – 27809-20 Levick v The National
Summary
of Complaint
1. Adam
Levick complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that The
National breached Clause 1 of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article
headlined “In Gaza there is no new normal ... just the same old hell haunted by
death”, published on 21 August 2020.
2. The
article, an opinion piece, focused upon the challenges facing those living in
the Gaza Strip, prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic, and stated “neither
chemotherapy nor radiology treatments are available due to Israeli restrictions
on medication entering the strip”.
3. The
complainant said that the article was inaccurate in breach of Clause 1
(Accuracy) to report that Israel prevented chemotherapy and radiotherapy
treatments from entering Gaza. While he acknowledged that there were often
shortages of the drugs due to internal disputes within Gaza, this was not the
same as Israel preventing their entry.
4. The
publication did not accept that the article breached the Code, as it did not
consider that the alleged inaccuracy identified by the complainant was
significantly inaccurate or misleading. The publication said that the
information included in the article was based upon a press release issued by
the Save the Children Fund, which referenced a 2009 report by the World Health
Organisation entitled ‘Medical equipment in Gaza’s hospitals. Internal
management, the Israeli blockade and foreign donations’, and published in good
faith.
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 amend the online article,
removing the statement that “neither chemotherapy nor radiology treatments are
available due to Israeli restrictions on medication entering Gaza.” The publication also offered to include the
following correction as a footnote:
“A
previous version of this article stated that neither chemotherapy nor radiology
treatments are available due to Israeli restrictions on medication entering
Gaza. This was based upon a press release published by Save the Children which
inaccurately cited a 2009 World Health Organisation report. We are happy to
clarify this.”
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: 03/09/2020
Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 25/11/2020
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