Press Council hits Hun on GP. The Australian Press Council has upheld a complaint brought by dogged activists Save Albert Park against the Herald Sun‘s reporting of the Australian Grand Prix. As Crikey reported earlier this year, the complaint related to four stories that uncritically quoted GP supremo Ron Walker spouting the economic benefits of the race to Victoria, global TV viewership and the amount of free advertising for Melbourne. In fact, many of those numbers had been disputed, a fact SAP said the Herald Sun had deliberately suppressed.

However, the Council rejected that assertion, ruling that “the newspaper was aware that Mr Walker’s statements about benefits and attendances had been strongly contested in detailed analyses from other sources”. Further, because they were attributed to Walker, “there was no obligation on the newspaper to determine whether they were accurate”.

Still, the Council said that the yarns in question should have included the other side of the story: “The Council considers that, although the newspaper had previously reported these and related concerns, the articles complained about should have provided better balance by at least indicating that the comments were disputed claims.”

The council said the obligation of the Herald Sun to make the clarification was “accentuated” by the stories’ close link with the promotion of the Grand Prix. In accordance with APC guidelines, the apology was published on page 46 of Friday’s Hez. — Andrew Crook

Front Page of the Day. The two-day riot in Tottenham, UK, meant the inevitable “London burning” headline was to make an appearance eventually …

The Department of Corrections. It’s the little things that matter. And surely the International Herald Tribune should know the difference between a pair of Christian Louboutin and Louis Vuitton …

The International Herald Tribune article in question from 4 August 2011

The correction that appeared in Saturday’s 8 August edition of the IHT

Elisabeth Murdoch opts not to join board of News Corp

“Elisabeth Murdoch will not be joining the board of her father Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation conglomerate, despite expectations that she would do so.” — The Guardian

Papers, mags face pressure to lift their game

“With the federal government still pondering the Greens’ call for an inquiry into Australia’s media, the Australian Press Council has launched its own standards project to examine the journalism practices at newspapers and magazines.” — The Australian

News Corp’s Soft Power in the US

“As it turns out, a News Corporation division has twice come under significant civil and criminal investigations in the United States, but neither inquiry went anywhere.” — New York Times

NY Times introduces Beta620, a site for experimental projects

“The New York Times has introduced its long-delayed Beta620, a public beta testing site where web surfers can experiment with new products that could eventually take root on NYTimes.com.” — Advertising Age