The Press Council decided to hear the newspaper’s appeal on the grounds that the newspaper, in a detailed defence, had raised issues of substance in regard to the use of hearsay and anonymous sources in news reporting.
The Press Council does not dispute the place and importance of such sources in the reporting of news, but strongly holds the view that, when such sources are the basis of a news story, this must be made plain at the outset.
It considers that this was not done in the present case and it upheld the Ombudsman’s decision in respect of the breach of Principle 2.1 of the Code of Practice.
It decided, however, taking all factors into account, including the passage of time, that the article did not breach Principle 5.3 of the Code of Practice, and it allowed the appeal in respect of this Principle.
