View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
December 4, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

PCC ruling backs Standard over use of subterfuge

By Press Gazette

The Evening Standard has won a Press Complaints Commission ruling which upholds the right of journalists to use subterfuge.

The complaint was brought by Consistent Hotel Staff after a Standard reporter obtained a job with the company to investigate allegations it employed and exploited illegal workers.

Although no story has yet appeared on the matter, the company lodged a complaint under section 11 of the Editors’ Code of Practice, which governs misrepresentation.

The company said that it had made clear to the Standard that it was prepared to discuss any questions it had.

It argued that the journalist had misrepresented herself by failing to identify herself as a reporter and invaded the privacy of employees by sharing company accommodation with them.

In its judgement, the commission said: “Newspapers must not undertake ‘fishing expeditions’ – they can employ subterfuge only when they have a public interest justification for doing so and there are no other means of gathering the required information.

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

“In this case, the commission considered the allegations of impropriety made to the newspaper about the company were sufficiently serious and specific to justify further investigation.”

The PCC said the newspaper was right to use subterfuge from the outset because: “Any company involved in wrongdoing might seek to suppress evidence of that wrongdoing were it to be questioned in a more traditional fashion.”

The commission rejected the privacy part of the complaint because no published material had appeared. It held that merely approaching someone – even undercover – does not infringe their privacy.

By Dominic Ponsford

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