View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Daily Mail apologises after describing Quaker charitable trust as ‘pro terrorist’

By Freddy Mayhew

The Daily Mail has issued an apology after describing a charity as “pro-terrorist”.

The paper said today it was “happy to make clear” that the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT), which it referred to as a “pro-terrorist charity”, does not support or fund terrorism.

The error appeared in a first edition headline on an article published on 27 May about the funding of the organisation responsible for a controversial referendum advert.

The advert, produced ahead of the EU referendum by Operation Black Vote, showed a white skinhead balanced on a see-saw with an older South Asian woman in a sari and the words: “A vote is a vote”.

It attracted criticism for its use of stereotypes, including from London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

The Mail reported that JRCT has given Operation Black Vote more than £100,000 over two years.

But the paper said it was happy to clarify that “while the JRCT is one of two organisations providing core funding to Operation Black Vote, it had no prior knowledge of the advert and did not pay for it”.

Content from our partners
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it
Impress: Regulation, arbitration and complaints resolution

vote_ad

The JRCT is a Quaker trust which claims to “seek to transform the world by supporting people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice”, according to its website.

This support is provided, primarily, through funding applied for by applicants, it states online.

The Mail’s apology in full:

“The first edition headline on an article on May 27 about the funding of the organisation responsible for a controversial referendum advert referred to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust as a ‘pro-terrorist charity’.

“We are happy to make clear that the JRCT does not support or fund terrorism. We apologise for the error.

“We are also happy to clarify that, while the JRCT is one of two organisations providing core funding to Operation Black Vote, it had no prior knowledge of the advert and did not pay for it.”

The Daily Mail has previously criticised the JRCT for supporting groups which it says encourage terrorism such as Cage and Teach na Failte.

 

Topics in this article : ,

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