Press Council exonerates SDA: accusation of insufficient anonymity unfounded
A reader had lodged a complaint regarding a specific SDA news agency report in which, in his opinion, the anonymity of a person described in the report had not been preserved. The Press Council has now rejected the allegation.
In a statement, the Press Council has rejected a complaint against the Swiss Press Agency SDA. A reader had approached the supervisory body because, in his opinion, the anonymity of the Swiss person responsible for the accident had not been fully preserved in the reporting on an accident in Italy. Although neither name nor picture were published, other details such as age, dual citizenship or place of residence would have allowed the person concerned to be identified, according to the complainant.
The Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Journalists actually states that neither the name nor the characteristics of a person may be published if they are involved in legal proceedings, as in this case. The Press Council countered this by stating that the personal details were not unimportant for readers' understanding. Moreover, identification outside the circle of family and friends as well as his professional environment was hardly possible.
The person responsible for the accident had caused a collision between a bus and a streetcar in Milan with his off-roader. A 52-year-old woman died and 26 people were injured.
The Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Journalists actually states that neither the name nor the characteristics of a person may be published if they are involved in legal proceedings, as in this case. The Press Council countered this by stating that the personal details were not unimportant for readers' understanding. Moreover, identification outside the circle of family and friends as well as his professional environment was hardly possible.
The person responsible for the accident had caused a collision between a bus and a streetcar in Milan with his off-roader. A 52-year-old woman died and 26 people were injured.
