Press Council: Complaint against Beobachter dismissed
The Press Council has rejected a complaint by the Swiss Association Against Animal Factories (VgT) against the Beobachter. The VgT offered the magazine extensive documentation on a cheese production label. The magazine subsequently published only a short article without mentioning the association.
The Press Council argued that the VgT should have been aware that the magazine would check the information it received and determine the direction and scope of a report on its own. It seems somewhat questionable that the Beobachter did not mention the VgT in the article. However, the magazine did not use any wording or photos from the VgT documentation.
Journalists must not use unfair methods to obtain information. However, anyone who entrusts information to media professionals cannot expect it to be published unchanged in terms of scope and thrust. This applies in particular to information from interested parties. Editorial offices should point out these rules to their informants.
Journalists must not use unfair methods to obtain information. However, anyone who entrusts information to media professionals cannot expect it to be published unchanged in terms of scope and thrust. This applies in particular to information from interested parties. Editorial offices should point out these rules to their informants.
