Staff at Sydney Morning Herald protest over Singapore A380 coverage

JOURNALISTS at The Sydney Morning Herald have protested over the newspaper’s use of the front page to promote Singapore Airlines.

The broadsheet paper largely devoted a four-page wraparound to the historic arrival of Singapore Airlines’ giant A380 airbus from Singapore.

The wraparound included a full-page Singapore Airlines advertisement and three smaller ads for the airline, accompanying stories about the arrival of the world’s biggest passenger plane and other aviation milestones.

Inside the wraparound was another Sydney Morning Herald front page featuring other stories.

Staff believe the move breached the paper’s charter of editorial independence and the Fairfax editorial ethics policy.

They also believe it breaches the Media Entertainment Arts Alliance code of ethics.

Sydney Morning Herald journalist Ruth Pollard, the co-chair of the Fairfax house committee, said the newspaper’s journalists had no choice but to hold a staff meeting today to discuss the matter.

“We reckon that it imperils the prestige and integrity of the paper,” she said.

“It shows that our masthead can be bought, it lets our readers down and it places the reputation of our reporters at risk.”

A unanimous vote condemned Fairfax management for running the spread while a letter, signed by staff, has been sent to senior editors and Fairfax management.

“We’re horrified,” Ms Pollard said. “It’s an unprecedented low.”

Editor Alan Oakley will meet staff on Monday to hear their concerns but rejected a call to publish a clarification in tomorrow’s newspaper.

In a letter to staff, Mr Oakley said: “The arrival of this aircraft was a story covered by all media, including a lengthy segment on ABC radio’s AM program (not known for its advertorials).

“I made the judgment that it be placed on page one and that the wrap go ahead – a decision based on news value.”

Source: The Australian