BIG STORIES :
News Corp. | Phone Hacking Scandal | WikiLeaks | Barack Obama | Julian Assange | 2012 U.S. Election | Religion | See All
iMEDIAETHICS.org
Seperator
 
Tips Facebook Twitter Twitter Twitter RSS Feeds
 
Home | | Contact Us

Entertainment/Lifestyle Media Ethics News :
Daily Media Pick
Comments (0)
Print Tweet Email

Elton John Claims the Times of London Libeled Him

By: Sydney Smith
August 11, 2012 04:10 PM EST
 
Elton John Claims the Times of London Libeled Him
 
(Credit: YouTube, "morningshow," screenshot)
 

The News Corp.-owned Times of London corrected a June 21 article "The Secrets of  Tax Avoiders" but Elton John still has accused the newspaper of libeling him, the BBC reported.

Elton John claims the article "falsely linked him to a controversial tax avoidance scheme," the Guardian explained.  In response, the Times has asked the court "whether or not the article is defamatory," according to a statement sent to iMediaEthics.

The reports wrongly identified Indigenous Media's Patrick McKenna as Elton John's accountant, which the correction notes. A clarification was also added to the article, which the BBC reported reads:

"We have been asked to make clear that the film finance partnerships arranged by Ingenious Media, whose CEO is Patrick McKenna, do not offer schemes of this type and they have not been involved in moving money offshore to avoid tax.  It was not our intention to make such an allegation and we are happy to make the position clear."

According to the BBC, Elton John's lawyers argued the claims "are particularly damaging to the claimant's reputation in the sphere of charity fundraising."  The Hollywood Reporter and Press Gazette added that Elton John's lawyers said the correction was "wholly inadequate" and that Elton John had wanted a "prominent apology."

A spokesperson from The Times provided iMediaEthics this statement about the article:

"We published a clear correction the following day, which was handled by the legal department in the usual way. We have also lodged an application with the court to determine whether or not the article is defamatory."

The Daily Beast noted that Elton John won a libel lawsuit from News Corp- owned the Sun in 1987 over a " false front page story about John’s contact with rent boys."

We have written to Carter Ruck, the law firm reported to represented Elton John, for comment and will update with any response.

Line
Print   Print
Line
Twitter   Tweet
Report an Error Report an Error
Email   E-mail
Link Send a Tip
 
 
  RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS
 
Checkout iMediaEthics Resources for Educators, a helpful section for colleges, institutions, students and teachers.
Ethics Codes Case Studies Sites We Like
Ethics Codes Case Studies Sites We Like
 
   DAVID MOORE ON POLLS [See All]   
9 in 10 Americans can be classified as Racist against Either Blacks or Whites?  What the AP Poll on Racial Attitudes really tells Us, Part 2.
PollSkeptic Report:   9 in 10 Americans can be classified as Racist...
What the AP Poll on Racial Attitudes Really Tells Us, Part 1
PollSkeptic Report:   What the AP Poll on Racial Attitudes Really Tells...
David Moore
PollTalk Blog:   3 in 10 Voters Believe Armed Revolution Might Be...
   MORE BY THIS AUTHOR [See All]   
   RELATED STORIES
 
NYT Public Editor Calls for One Standard in Using Photoshop, Disclosures
NYT Public Editor Calls for One Standard in Using Photoshop, Disclosures
A discussion on Photoshopping images in the news was...
 
Did US Justice Dept snooping put AP anonymous sources at risk?
Did US Justice Dept snooping put AP anonymous sources at risk?
How many anonymous sources were put at risk by the...
 
'Transgender Issues' after Apparent Suicide of Teacher Lucy Meadows, PCC to Advise Media
'Transgender Issues' after Apparent Suicide of Teacher Lucy Meadows, PCC to Advise Media
The UK Press Complaints Commission announced last week...
 
 Call To Penalize Media Outlets Violating Journalism Ethics in Ghana
Call To Penalize Media Outlets Violating Journalism Ethics in Ghana
Ghana Institute of Journalism rector David Newton called...
 
Scott Pelley says it has 'been a bad few months for journalism'
Scott Pelley says it has 'been a bad few months for journalism'
"We're getting the big stories wrong over and...
 
iMediaEthics Nominated as Finalist in Online Media Awards
iMediaEthics Nominated as Finalist in Online Media Awards
iMediaEthics is pleased to report that we were named...
 
   SIMILAR TOPIC
 
Father of Teen May Sue, Accused by NY Post as Boston Marathon Bomber on Front Page
Father of Teen May Sue, Accused by NY Post as Boston Marathon Bomber on Front Page
An angry father of a teenager wrongly identified by the...
 
Student Newspaper Wrongly Names City Councilor a Registered Sex Offender, Gets Sued for Libel
Student Newspaper Wrongly Names City Councilor a Registered Sex Offender, Gets Sued for Libel
A college newspaper is again the subject of a libel...
 
Irish Daily Mail Opinion Column Led to 'Landmark' Libel Case
Irish Daily Mail Opinion Column Led to 'Landmark' Libel Case
In what is being called a "landmark case," the...
 
NBC: We 'Fairly and accurately reported' on George Zimmerman's 911 Trayvon Martin Call
NBC: We 'Fairly and accurately reported' on George Zimmerman's 911 Trayvon Martin Call
 
   TWITTER
   FACEBOOK
   LATEST STORIES [See All]