Press Council reprimands Thurgauer Zeitung: Letter writers treated unfairly

The man had sent a letter to the editor about the location of the planned central city administration of Romanshorn. The TZ made an article out of it, quoted central parts of the letter and named the author. The facts researched by the TZ journalist contradicted the claims of the letter's author. The reader complained to the Press Council that the printing of only individual passages distorted the truth. In addition, his name had been mentioned without his consent. In general, he was treated unworthily and unfairly.

The Press Council recognizes that the Thurgauer Zeitung wrote the truth by investigating. But the way it dealt with the writer of the letter to the editor was wrong in its approach: It should have told him clearly before publishing its article that it would not publish his letter to the editor. But only passages from it in the planned report. And that she would name him as the author of the quotes. Then the reader could have authorized his quotes or not. (SDA)