Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport Written Evidence


APPENDIX 107

Memorandum submitted by Group Captain Peaker

  I write to draw the attention of your Select Committee to the unsatisfactory outcome of a complaint I made to the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) about a news photograph published by the Daily Express on 14 November 2001 that had been significantly altered prior to publication. The story is summarised in the attached images (not printed) and letter that I subsequently wrote to my MP. It has particular relevance now that we are at war with Iraq.

  I have the complete correspondence on this topic should you require it. As a favour, I told the PCC I was not personally affected by the photograph, and my complaint was on a matter of principle; the PCC said they could not address matters of principle. Equally, the Daily Express at first denied making any changes to the photo and only agreed to include the words "and altered" in their clarification after four months of arguing. What hope is there when the then Editor of the Daily Express is now a member of the PCC?

20 March 2003

Annex

LETTER DATED 29 MAY 2002, FROM MR MIKE PEAKER TO RICHARD PAGE MP

  The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) are effectively giving national newspapers carte blanche to mislead their readers by allowing them, with only minor censure, to significantly and materially alter news photographs pictures prior to their publication.

  On 14 November 2001 The Times and the Daily Express both published a picture of Northern Alliance soldiers entering Kabul. The two pictures are attached (not printed). You will see that the Express picture has been computer enhanced by the addition of approximately 30 extra currency notes fluttering in the air. I registered a complaint with the PCC. The outcome of this complaint, even after I had appealed to the PCC against their original decision, was that they thought publication of the following written "clarification" by the Daily Express would represent sufficient action under the terms of the Code:

    "We refer to a picture of Northern Alliance tanks entering Kabul published on the front page on November 14 last year. We would like to make clear parts of the picture were enhanced and altered due to the grainy texture of the picture received at the Daily Express. The main part of the image was unaffected but we apologise if any readers were confused."

  This is both fallacious and inadequate.

  I also wrote to the PCC Code of Practice Committee suggesting that if this is how the Code is applied then it needs modifying. I pointed out that the Code does not adequately address the issue of pictorial inaccuracy. I suggested that the principle of pictorial correction for pictorial breaches should be introduced. They have concluded that no change is necessary.

  I think it is quite appalling that the PCC will not take a more robust line. They have completely ignored their own Code of Practice, which states in its preamble:

    "All members of the press have a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards. This Code... upholds the public's right to know... It is essential that it (the Code) be honoured not only to the letter but in the full spirit".

  In this instance, which has added significance as a matter of principle rather than of individual redress, self regulation has demonstrably failed.

  Surely the public have a right to expect that news pictures are accurate originals and not the result of the artistic whims of the editor? This is especially the case with photos from war zones where British troops are in combat. A single image can have a significant effect on public opinion. It is a very slippery slope when the media start creating their own news photographs, something all too easy in these days of digital photography. What can be done?


 
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