News story could be: com-

12 - Friday, July 12, 1085 -

Press

North Shore News

Council upholds

complaint against News

THE B.C. PRESS Council
has upheld a reader's com-
plaint against the News of
bias in a newspaper story of
a Council hearing.

However, Council direc-
tors said if the story had
been identified as a column
or analysis, there would have

’ been no grounds for com-

plaint.

The story was a repori by
Editor-in-Chief Noel Wright
of a closed Press “Council
hearing last March. of a
complaint by University of
B.C, professor’ Dr. Philip
Pinkus against, the News and
its columnist Doug Collins.

The complainant, Fiona
McQuarrie .of North Van-
couver, said the story was
biased in. its presentation
tather than factually.

By use of certain words

. describing each side’s argu-
ments, she said, ‘‘an unnec-
essary sarcastic attitude’
was displayed toward the.
evidence of Dr. Pinkus.
: Because the article was pres-
ented as a news story, she

‘contended ‘it should «have .
: been. subject to the. same |

.Standard of. objectivity: as
other news stories. .
Roger McAfee, News
-general manager, denied the
accusation of bias. He told
the Council the complainant
was unable to say whether
the “words: used © were ‘inac-
‘curate ‘ “because ‘the hearing
‘had been closed to press and
‘public and. there. was no
iother report. with which the

McA fee said: the ‘story was

ATTACK

SALE’.
EXTENDER |

“SALE.
STRIKER

“SALE:

own trial isn't the type of
reporting encouraged by the
best schools of journalism.
However, since 1 wound up
as the only reporter present
as well as being chief
spokesman for the News,
that’s the best we can do for
you this time.”*

The adjudication said:
“Fiona McQuarrie’s con-
cern about the manner in
which the B.C. Press Coun-
cil hearing of March 21 was
reported in the North Shore
News on March 24 is shared
by the Council. The report
by Editor-in-Chief Noel
Wright, who was a partici-
pant in the closed hearing,
included considerable  ex-
pression of personal opi-
nion. .

“While the Council is
adamant that everyone
should have freedom of ex-
pression, and. works to
preserve freedom of the
press, it also encourages the
highest ethical, professional
and commercial standards in

journalism. The Council’

determined that Mr.
Wrignt’s story failed to meet
accepted standards of good
journzlism,

“At issue was a front page
article that readers of the
News were told was a news
report, but which was really
a personal account contain-
ing much opinion.

“The Council disagrees
with the newspaper's con-
tention that readers were
sufficiently warned that the
article contained ‘‘a certain
bias." The first paragraph
of the article referred to
what followed as a ‘‘news
report.”’ It wasn’t.

“Had the article been
displayed with Mr. Wright's
regular column logo, or had
been labelled ‘‘analysis” (as
is common practice in news-
papers) there would be no
grounds for the complaint.

“But because the editor
wrote only his view of what
happened in what purported
to be a news story, the
Council upholds the com-
plaint.””

Colorado woman
wins roadster

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD

“Shanon Normand drew the

winning ticket in the July 1

“West Vancouver ‘Lions

Club’s raffle for a 1952
MG-TD | limited © edition
classic roadster. .

: Proceeds from the raffle

. go to Lions charities.

“:, The. winning. ticket "was

‘Durable all leather ‘Court shoe. Save. $15.
Popular trainer ‘with proper ‘support/cushioning: Save $10. S 59°9

Stable trainer with excellent support. Save $10.

Sound Lions Club in
Horseshoe Bay where the
draw took place. The winner
“was Linda Hodges of
Boulder, Colorado.

. Hodges says she is looking ,

forward to having her car in
Colorado, -however, dif-
ficulties in taking it to the
U.S. may make it necessary
for. her to. sell the. car in
Canada.

$39°9

S69°9

Now, more than ever, the choice
is Air Canada. Because we've got more”
flights — now 5 on weekdays, including
3 non-stops* — at: more convenient
departure times, all day long.

What’s more, you get 2 000 AeroPlan
Bonus points (each way) for every full
fare trip to or from Winnipeg between July
15 and October 28.

So next trip, fly Air Canada. We give
you more than anyone else, coming and «
going.

Depart Vancouver} Arrive Winnipeg

*Starting July 15, 1985