By Jean Morgan
The Press Complaints Commission has told investigative journalist Don Hale it cannot investigate his complaint about a Sunday Telegraph story because it does not deal with complaints from journalists or newspaper companies.
The commission had agreed to re-examine the complaint after it had first given Hale its reasons for being unable to investigate because he had maintained there was a strong public interest. However, the commissioners decided Hale’s case was not exceptional and he was told the PCC did not intend to depart from its usual procedures.
In its letter to Hale, the PCC said: “The commission cannot be seen to take sides in complaints made by one member of the profession against another. “Moreover, it has always been recognised that journalists are usually in the position to respond publicly to any criticisms should they wish to.”
Jean Morgan
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