An Australian magazine promised convicted murderer anonymity for an article about him, but slipped up and named him in its story this weekend, Australian media website Mumbrella reported.
The Sept. 22 print and online article in Good Weekend, “Life after prison: One man’s story,” details the man’s background, past crimes, and the 1990 night when the man broke into a home, and shot and killed a man. The story refers to the man as Samson, noting his “name has been changed, at his request, along with others in this story.” The article focuses on the man’s attempt to adjust back into society after being released from jail in 2006 and then again in 2015. However, in one instance, the editors failed to change his real name to Samson, thus revealing his identity to readers.
In an apology statement, Fairfax Media, which is Good Weekend‘s publisher, told Mumbrella
“We deeply regret this serious error made in the process of production. We decided to change the subject’s name out of respect for the subject and make no excuse for the error.”
“It is understood the author had penned the piece with Samson’s original name before it was altered in the editing process, with one reference to him missed,” Mumbrella reported.
According to the Australian, Fairfax said “Unfortunately, the subject’s real name was inadvertently reinstated in one instance in the story, after a very late amendment was made in the production process. We sincerely regret the error.”
iMediaEthics has written to Fairfax Media for more information about the error and apology.
Hat Tip: Paul Wiggins
UPDATED: 9/26/2016 11:12 AM EST With more information