ADNAN BELUSHI AGAINST TARANAKI DAILY NEWS

The Taranaki Daily news published an article on 5 March 2024, headlined Council terminates lease deal for Civic Centre floor. The story reported the collapse of a five-year tenancy deal with local businessman Adnan Belushi whose business failed just months after the lease deal was signed. 

Mr Belushi complained the article was based on information provided in a private conversation he had with the journalist who was curious about the closure of his business in New Plymouth. Mr Belushi said the reporter published an article without his consent and the article shared confidential information that could be damaging to his business. 

The Taranaki Daily News said it stood by its story and provided a recording of the phone call in which the reporter said early on that he was looking to do a story. 

The Media Council notes the purpose of the reporter’s call was set out clearly near the start of the recording in which Mr Belushi explained the situation. He admitted he owed the council money but blamed the council for the failure of his business because it did not meet terms of agreement required for his business to succeed. 

He knew he was talking to a reporter and took the opportunity to set out his position. He was under no obligation to say anything that he did not want to be reported and, if he had wanted anything to be off the record, the onus was on him to ask for that.  Mr Belushi may have misheard the reporter, but the Taranaki Daily News cannot be blamed for that, as the reporter’s statement on the recording is clear. 

The Council believes the reporter was fully entitled to report what he did. There was no evidence to support Mr Belushi’s claim that there was a breach of Media Council Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance or (8) Confidentiality. 

There were no grounds to proceed.