Media Watch slammed for getting facts wrong

In an unprecedented step, the Australian Press Council has lashed the ABC’s Media Watch.

Paul Barry, host of ABC TV's Media Watch.

In an unprecedented step, the Australian Press Council has lashed ABC’s Media Watch and accused it of getting its facts wrong.

The two media watchdogs are at loggerheads over a segment last Monday the ABC program ran about paparazzi intrusion into the privacy of TV stars and in particular a complaint Osher Gunsberg, host of The Bachelor, made against a Daily Mail Australia article poking fun at his weight.

The Daily Mail article and paparazzi photographs made reference in a headline to Gunsberg’s weight while on holidays as “Bali Belly”.

The press regulator said Media Watch made a factual error it did not correct and left out “important background material”.

The press council ruled in favour of Gunsberg, but Media Watch claimed that “the Daily Mail’s only punishment was a requirement to post this link on the story”.

But the Daily Mail had to run a summary of the adjudication in a prominent place on its home page for 24 hours, with a link to the full Adjudication, which was permanently published on its website.

Osher Gunsberg.

The Press Council asked for a correction, and Media Watch attached a note on its website but not a correction.

The APC also accused Media Watch of failing to report Gunsberg’s favourable attitude to the APC adjudication.

“Importantly, the program omitted all reference to Mr Gunsberg’s public statements that he was very happy with the result of the Press Council’s process and had no complaint about the Daily Mail’s ‘punishment’ being lacking,” APC executive director John Pender said in a statement.

But on the program, last Monday, presenter Paul Barry said: “The Press Council tells us it doesn’t want the power to censor, and that Osher Gunsberg is very happy with the result.’’

Media Watch executive producer Tim Latham, who has run the program for three years, said the program’s coverage was “fair and accurate”.

“The key adjudication for readers is the one that sits next to the story,” Latham said.

Media Watch attached a note to its transcript after an approach from the press council, which had requested a correction.

“We put that up there but they are still not satisfied,” Latham said. “The thrust of their statement is that people will be less likely to complain to the press council and I see no evidence of that whatsoever.”

The Press Council has no jurisdiction over the ABC, which can be overseen by the Australian Communications and Media Authority if the public broadcaster’s own internal complaints proceedings does not resolve an issue.