Press Council rules against Northern Star ‘junkie scum’ headline, saying it is likely to offend
The Australian Press Council (APC) has ruled Australian Regional Media’s The Northern Star’s “Junkie Scum: Pick up syringes” headline used on newsagent display posters to promote the newspaper was “likely to cause offence” while the related article’s headline about a “blood-filled syringe” was an exaggeration.
The press-watchdog welcomed The Northern Star’s apology, published five days after the contentious headline, in which its editor acknowledged it was a “poorly worded, over-the-top, tabloid reaction” to the front page story.
The Northern Star defended the use of the word “junkie”, arguing it “was a widely used term” and the publication “was not aware that the term was offensive to a large section of the community or to intravenous drug users”.
The publication blamed “space considerations” which meant terms such as “intravenous drug user” were not practical for poster headlines.
Good grief. Did the Press Council also supply the tissues so the precious little complainers could dry their eyes? I see absolutely nothing wrong with the headline – and if it offends some of the junkie scum, then so be it.
And there you are Rosco; an example of somebody who is probably puzzled why Tony Abbott got the chop.
‘I’m alright jack, fck the rest of society’ is what you are standing for.