Recently the Stop the Stadium web site published statements critical of the Otago Daily Times newspaper, its employees, its editorial staff and the paper’s owner. In particular it was alleged:-
1. “An ODT employee was filmed vandalising the School Mural.”
2. “The ODT hide what they’re told to hide and publish the sensational which sometimes is far from the truth.”
3. “The fact the The ODT filmed one of their own employees vandalising a school Mural with the express object of trying to discredit STS is unethical and disgraceful! I suggest that a complaint to the NZ Press Council is called for. Is this being contemplated? Have the ODT apologised in print to STS for their collusion in the damage they may have caused to STS reputation? I doubt it!”
It is accepted that no ODT employee has ever vandalised the school mural, no filming of the same was ever made or exists, and that the paper was never aware of this. The further claims made that this filming by the ODT was for the express object of trying to discredit STS is acknowledged to have no factual foundation. Further comments made that the ODT “hide and publish the sensational which sometimes is far from the truth”, that the paper’s owners dictate editorial policy and of a prejudiced editorial policy are also acknowledged to have no factual
basis or substance.
Stop the Stadium acknowledges the offence caused to employees of the ODT and the owners by the published comments. It is accepted that the published statements were untrue and Stop the Stadium apologises, without reservation for them.
