The Orcadian newspaper in Orkney and Wyvex Media which owns The Oban Times, Lochaber Times, Campbeltown Courier, Arran Banner and Argyllshire Advertiser have refused to publish $camon $cotland's whistleblower hotline advert (the offending adverts have already been published by The National, Stornoway Gazette, The Shetland Times and West Highland Free Press)!
Here's the refusal from The Orcadian newspaper (owned by the Orkney Media Group - which is controlled by S & JD Robertson Group Ltd) who claimed that "the advert, and the website listed, contain imagery where the accuracy and method of presentation could potentially be considered inaccurate, misleading or distorted":
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, May 8, 2023 at 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: Advert
To: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Hi Don,
To ensure our compliance with the IPSO Editor’s Code, we have determined to decline to run your proposed advert. The advert, and the website listed, contain imagery where the accuracy and method of presentation could potentially be considered inaccurate, misleading or distorted.
From IPSO:
Clause 1 (Accuracy)
- i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.
If you are dissatisfied with this response, you may wish to raise a complaint with IPSO:
Independent Press Standards Organisation,
Gate House,
1 Farringdon Street,
London
EC4M 7LG.
Telephone: 0300 123 2220
Email: [email protected]
Kind regards
Inga
$camon $cotland replied:
Inga,
It has not been distorted.
Please reconsider your refusal.
Thanks,
Don
Here's the photo as published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate (sourced from Mowi's RSPCA Assured salmon farm at North Shore in Loch Erisort on the Isle of Lewis):
Here's $camon $cotland's advert which adds a red card and a whistle to the Mowi photo (as published by the Scottish Government's Fish Health Inspectorate):
Wyvex Media (which owns The Oban Times, Arran Banner, Campbeltown Courier, Scottish Field, Argyllshire Advertise and Fish Farmer magazine) also refused to publish $camon $cotland's whistleblower hotline advert:
Hi Don,
Apologies for the delay in responding to you.
We will need to decline this/these adverts. If you want to chat about this, please feel free to give me a call.
Kind regards,
Nicky
Nicky Murphy
Advertising Sales Director
Wyvex Media - Newspaper Division
T: 01631 568014
www.obantimes.co.uk
Wyvex Media Ltd HQ, Crannog Lane, Lochavullin Industrial Estate, Oban, Argyll, PA34 4HB
When pressed on why Wyvex Media (owned by Oban-based Mrs Joan Peake Bennett and Mr Howard Grimwade Bennet) refused to publish the advert, Nicky Murphy merely stated that "we have a right to decline advertising":
Hi Don,
As you will appreciate, we have the right to decline advertising.
Wyvex Media has refused to respond to repeated questions on why they refuse to publish the advert:
To be 100% clear: Before $camon $cotland files a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation, an explanation of why Wyvex Media refuses to publish our advert would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Don
Nicky,
If you would like to detail reasons why Wyvex Media has refused to publish our advert please note that I will be publishing a blog on Wednesday. I would be happy to include your perspective.
Please note that the WHFP, The National. The Stornoway Gazette and The Shetland Times have all published our advert.
Thanks,
Don
The Orcadian has also refused to respond to the following request:
Inga,
If you would like to detail reasons why The Orcadian has refused to publish our advert please note that I will be publishing a blog on Wednesday. I would be happy to include your perspective.
Please note that the WHFP, The National. The Stornoway Gazette and The Shetland Times have all published our advert.
Thanks,
Don
Ecohustler recently published a more sanitized version of the whistleblower sticker which may be more palatable to newspapers:
Ecohustler reported (13 June 2023):
Get the stickers
Whilst The Orcadian and The Oban Times have given our advert the cold shoulder other newspapers across Scotland have published them:
This is not the first time that newspapers owned by Wyvex Media in Scotland have refused to publish adverts containing negative information about salmon farming.
The Ferret reported in June 2022:
The Ferret article included:
Whilst newspapers owned by Wyvex Media refuse to publish adverts showing the salmon farming industry in a negative light, at least negative news about salmon farming has been reported in the pages of The Oban Times, Argyllshire Advertiser and Campbeltown Courier. The Oban Times reported in May 2023:
The Oban Times reported (8 June 2023):
The Oban Times reported in July 2021:
The Oban Times reported in October 2020:
The Oban Times reported in August 2020:
The Argyllshire Advertiser reported in January 2022:
The Campbeltown Courier reported in September 2018:
Read more via:
Gruesome Photos: ‘MowiLeaks’ Blows the Whistle on RSPCA Assured Scottish Salmon!
MowiLeaks: 399 documents leaked by Mowi whistleblower
Sunday Post: "There is something fishy about salmon on offer in the supermarket - animal welfare campaigners in warning over deformities"
Polish Version of Whistleblower Hotline Launched!
Mowi Whistleblower: "Nothing has changed for the better safety wise....Health and Safety will NEVER be a priority within Mowi whilst Ben Hadfield is MD"
Whistleblower Hotline Launched - please dish the dirt on salmon pharming!
Mowi Whistleblower Leaks Photos & Video: "fish farming is a disgusting industry"!
Calling All Whistleblowers, Divers, Boaters & Fishermen!
The Ferret: "Police investigate allegation seal was illegally shot by fish farm"
£10,000 Reward Offered - Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms in the Cross Hairs!
Calling All Whistleblowers - Please pass on photos of dead seals killed at salmon farms!
Caught in the Cross-Hairs: Illegal Killing of Seals by Scottish Salmon Farms!
Press Release: "Blowing the Whistle on Scottish Salmon"
Whistleblower Photos of Marine Harvest
Whistleblower Photos of The Scottish Salmon Company
US ‘whistleblower’ claims food firm sold fake Scottish salmon
'Illegal poison' used on salmon: Chemical treatment at fish farms is hazard to health and marine life, claims ex-employee
