GEOFF DAVIES AGAINST THE DOM POST
Case Number: 3364
Council Meeting: DECEMBER 2022
Decision: No Grounds to Proceed
Publication: The Dominion Post
Principle: Accuracy, Fairness and Balance
Ruling Categories:
Children and Young People
Editorial Discretion / Freedom
Headlines and Captions
Photographs
Privacy
Tragedies, Offensive Handling of
Overview
On 1 November 2022, the Dominion Post published a story headlined Teen in coma after crash that killed girlfriend. The story also ran on the Stuff website. Geoff Davies complained that the decision to publish a photograph of the young man in a coma in the intensive care unit was in poor taste and was an error of judgement. The Dominion Post replied that the family supplied the photograph and wanted it published and that the editor considered it was a valuable addition to the story.
The Media Council considers that in this particular case the paper was within its rights to publish the photograph. It had been supplied by the family who wanted it published. There is some public interest in publishing the photograph as it graphically demonstrates the consequences of poor driving decisions. It did not show terrible injuries or otherwise shock unduly. No principles have been breached.
Decision: There were insufficient grounds to proceed.