STANLEY DSOUZA AGAINST HERALD ON SUNDAY 3
Case Number: 3154
Council Meeting: DECEMBER 2021
Decision: No Grounds to Proceed
Ruling Categories:
Discrimination
Offensive Language
Overview
CASE NO: 3154
RULING BY THE NEW ZEALAND MEDIA COUNCIL ON THE COMPLAINT OF STANLEY DSOUZA AGAINST THE HERALD ON SUNDAY
FINDING: INSUFFICIENT GROUNDS TO PROCEED
DATE: DECEMBER 2021
The Herald on Sunday ran a story on September 26, 2021, headlined Praise the Jord. It was a story about a football coach who was confident that he could retain the services of star player Jordan De Goey.
Stanley Dsouza complained the headline disparaged Lord Jesus Christ and this was offensive to his faith.
A letter to the editor setting out his complaint was run on October 3, but Mr D’Souza was not satisfied as the paper did not express regret or remorse.
The Media Council regards the headline as a harmless play on words. It does not denigrate a religion, nor is it is discriminatory or gratuitously offensive. The phrase is not used to sneer or make fun. The As the Council has noted before there is no right not to be offended. The Herald on Sunday ran Mr Dsouza’s comment as a letter to the editor and there was no obligation to take it further.
There were insufficient grounds to proceed.