The UK Press Complaints Commission agreed with a member of the public who complained that the Scottish Daily Mail was harassing him for an interview. The person who complained is the father of a student who was involved in London tuition protests, pictured “allegedly assaulting a police officer” and also “questioned by police and then bailed.”
According to the PCC, the Daily Mail sent staff to the man’s family house “four times within 24 hours seeking a comment.”
“On each occasion, the family made clear they did not wish to speak to journalists, and asked them to leave the property. There was one additional approach to the complainant near his home, which led to him contacting the police,” according to the PCC.
The Daily Mail defended itself claiming that it was acting in the public interest by trying to contact the son for comment.
Stephen Abell, the PCC’s director, explained in a statement that under the PCC’s harassment clause, there must be “a strong overriding public interest” for journalists to continue trying to interview someone who has declined interviews. In the case of the student’s father, that didn’t apply.
Hat Tip: The Guardian