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Last year, The Sun sparked public outrage when it published an article detailing Jeremy Clarkson’s ‘dream’ for Meghan Markle to be attacked in the street.
Over 25,000 complaints were made. Complaints-handler IPSO dismissed most of these, but did pursue four complaints from the Fawcett Society and the Wilde Foundation. These complaints alleged sexism, racism, inaccuracy and harassment. And on Friday June 30th, IPSO announced that the complaint of sexism has been upheld.
This is the first time in IPSO’s entire history that it has upheld a complaint of sexism against any newspaper. But it’s not enough – in fact, this decision doesn’t even require any further action from The Sun, beyond the publication of an adjudication inside the paper.
It has taken over five months for the complaints handler to reach what is a bare minimum decision.
The individuals responsible for publishing this article have not faced any regulatory sanction at all.
That’s why we are now calling for a standards investigation into The Sun newspaper, which has to ask:
- How did the article come to be published in the first place?
- Who signed it off, and which executives were involved?
- What needs to change to stop it from happening again?
Journalists should abide by standards, to protect the public from discrimination and abuse.
But IPSO is controlled by press executives and uses a standards code written by newspaper editors themselves. This is the press marking its own homework and – even when they get it wrong – they are given a pass anyway.
The Sun must be held accountable. Add your name now.