Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to make a formal complaint under the Editors’ Code of Conduct about the accuracy of the following article published by the Daily Express (online edition) on 29 November 2016:
Offending article
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/737651/Polish-Prime-Minister-Beata-Szydlo-Theresa-May-language-school-Poland-visit-downing-street
This is the headline of the Daily Express article by Will Kirby:
“Polish PM demands her language 'should be taught in BRITISH SCHOOLS' during UK visit”
This is the first paragraph of the article itself:
“POLISH Prime Minister Beata Szydlo declared that British schools should teach the Polish language after she met Theresa May at Downing Street on Monday.”
This is the second paragraph of the article.
“During a televised press conference, the Polish leader talked about “the option of teaching Polish as a language in British schools” after the topic was raised in a meeting of senior Polish and British politicians.”
The text of the Daily Express article refers to the “option” of Polish being taught. The corresponding Guardian article reported the words of the Polish Prime Minister as follows:
“We also spoke about the support for the Polish community, we spoke about the possibility of teaching Polish as a language in British schools, we spoke about many different things that are important to those Polish people who live in the UK.”
My emphasis has been added in italics to all the text quoted above.
Complaint
I wish to complain about the Daily Express’s headline and the first paragraph of the article. The headline and first paragraph quotes the Polish PM as “demanding” that Polish “should” be taught in British schools. But this is not what she said. Later in the same article, the text refers to her “talking about” her desire that this be an “option”. The Guardian article quotes her as describing it as a “possibility.”
The Daily Express has seriously misquoted the Polish Prime Minister, and on a culturally sensitive subject. This is at the least a breach of the principle of accuracy in the Editors’ Code of Practice.
“Demanding” that Polish “should” be taught in English schools, and suggesting that such teaching was “possible” are significantly different things. It was precisely this difference which motivated, at least in part, many of the angry comments from readers.
Many Express readers took the Express’s headline and first paragraph as an accurate reflection of what the Polish PM said. This is evident from many of the online comments. I attach in full all the comments received as at 10:07am, 29 November 2016.
Looking at the comments from the top, I list the first 3 commenters who objected to the alleged “demand” by the Polish PM:
Worldinmotion, page 10
Gofar67, page 11
Kimboy, page 13
There are numerous other similar comments.
Thank you for taking the time to deal with this complaint and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
