Julian Assange makes McCann media coverage comparison

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17626346

Julian Assange makes McCann media coverage comparison



Julian Assange has issued a written statement to the Leveson Inquiry

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he faced inaccurate and negative media coverage on a similar scale to that experienced by Gerry and Kate McCann.

Mr Assange is wanted by the Swedish authorities for questioning over alleged sex offences, which he denies.

He made his media claims in a written statement to the Leveson Inquiry.

The McCanns' daughter Madeleine disappeared in May 2007. Portuguese police investigating the case, briefly named the couple as suspects.

Mr Assange, who remains on conditional bail in the UK, claims the allegations against him are politically motivated.

The 40-year-old Australian also criticised the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) in his statement, for its handling of his complaint into how his case was being reported.

He suggested that inaccurate reporting of his case had an impact on his fight against extradition to Sweden.

Mr Assange is waiting the outcome of his appeal to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the UK, against his potential extradition.

'Press falsehoods'
Mr Assange wrote: "Those who have been the subject of ongoing, widespread inaccurate and negative media coverage - as I have, possibly on a scale not seen since the abuse of the McCanns - know that the harms created for individuals and small organisations or groups by a failure to maintain high ethical journalistic standards can be severe, consequential and almost insurmountable."

Mr Assange said the PCC ruled it was "perfectly acceptable" to say he had been charged with rape, when he has only been accused of the offence.

He added: "The PCC's clear failure to enforce proper standards of accuracy and fairness - indeed, its reluctance to act and to adhere to its own guidelines because of the active case against me - comes at a time when, due to the number of other of our legal cases already in play and my grave personal circumstances under house arrest awaiting a Supreme Court extradition decision, my ability to achieve justice through libel actions at the moment when they are needed is severely curtailed."

He also said that "press falsehoods" must be "disincentivised or they will flourish".

He concluded: "Unfortunately, the Press Complaints Commission does not provide effective disincentives or corrective remedies for victims.

"Neither, in many cases, do the courts due to the expense of libel actions."

The Leveson Inquiry into press standards is being overseen by Lord Leveson.

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IMO - he has some nerve, as he was responsible for more meat being thrown to the jackals, with all the hype and twisting from Morais and co over that cable.

And really, no, his situation bears no resemblance to that of the McCanns.

He helped make things WORSE for Madeleine and her family - how dare he now play the victim and try to hang onto their coat-tails?

So, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he faced inaccurate and negative media coverage, then I ask him, why such smears / leaks from wikileaks about the McCanns?

The hypocrisy is stunning, Pedro.

What I don't understand about his frantic attempts to stop being extradited is why doesn't he go back and clear his name. He says he's not guilty and one has to accept he is not until proven otherwise. Oh yes, I remember now the US want him over there to answer charges of treason. My feelings is that a) he is guilty as charged in Sweden and b) the US will almost certainly demand his extradition Stateside after he has served his time in Sweden. Like the old saying says, he doth protest too much. LL

you´re right bb1. good point Lamplighter, will see.

How funny!

Assange is no longer the forkers' pin-up boy; he's IN IT too, now.

JillyCL ‏ @JillyCL Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
@MyNanny25 Yes, #Assange has just jumped aboard the #McCann bandwagon (or gravytrain?) @RothleyPillow @ReformAgenda @wikileaks

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Mari Welzel ‏ @umweltbuerger Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
#JulianAssange #Assange #McCann Hopefully the last time I mention your name, Assange! You are from now on bad news!!

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Rothley Pillowcase ‏ @RothleyPillow Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
@MyNanny25 Nice one coz Assange has obviously w**kered himself into becoming one of the UK POWER ELITE @ReformAgenda #Anonymous #MCCANN

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Nanny ‏ @MyNanny25 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
@occupySYDNEY @OccupyRiverside #Assange is a #Traitor and some of us today will close our #Wikileaks blogs #McCann -No more donations.

Chris Stedman ‏ @ChrisRStedman Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Pleasing that every day more & more people are viewing the #McCann hashtag & commenting intelligently. Sad about few who just repeat mantra.

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Rothley Pillowcase ‏ @RothleyPillow Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
@fluffkin The detail is: I've campaigned for Assange His Leveson #mccann statement is a F**KING LOADA BOLLOX So he can GO F**K HIMSELF NOW



Agent Zoe appears to be off her meds again