View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 1, 2001updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Suspension for reporter as entire print run recalled

By Press Gazette

Angling Times: derogatory term

A reporter working for Emap’s fishing weekly, Angling Times, has been suspended on full pay for inserting an "inappropriate" slang word which resulted in the paper being recalled and distributed a day late.

The incident involved a feature on the Disabled World Fishing Championships. The page was laid out on a Sunday night and, while staff waited for winners’ names to come in, a junior reporter inserted a derogatory word for the disabled into the copy.

A source said the subs were not familiar with the term and assumed it was the name of a sponsor. It was not until the fully printed version landed on the newsdesk the following day that the word was actually queried.

A statement from Angling Times, which has a print run of 85,000, said: "Unfortunately, several hundred copies of the original newspaper did reach the shops but all were immediately recalled and replaced. As a result the title was distributed a day late." Peter Thompson, director of the British Disabled Angling Association, said: "I have been fully informed of what happened. It is an unfortunate incident and seems to be the result of a young person’s naivety.

"Disabled fishermen in this country have benefited from the fundraising activities of the Angling Times and our organisation does not intend to blow this incident out of proportion." A staffer on Angling Times claimed the team was relatively new to the Sunday shift, as the publication date had only just been brought forward. A full internal inquiry has been mounted and the reporter has been suspended.

By Ruth Addicott

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network