The Australian loses appeal over claims former journalist was ‘habitually intoxicated’

April 26, 2017 10:38

Six months after being ordered to pay damages of $100,000 for a Media Diary story in The Australian describing a former Townsville Bulletin journalist as “habitually intoxicated”, News Corp has lost an appeal against the decision in the Queensland Supreme Court.

Weatherup was given a good behaviour bond after admitting damaging his neighbour’s car. Source: Townsville Bulletin

Former Townsville Bulletin reporter Malcolm Weatherup and writer of the local blog Townsville Magpie, launched action against News Corp after a story was published in The Australian’s Media Diary section in 2014 describing the former Network Nine reporter as “Malcolm ‘always under the weather up'”.

Under the headline ‘Wrong side of the bench’, the story reported Weatherup’s appearance in Townsville Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to wilful damage after a parking altercation which had been reported in the Townsville Bulletin.

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Simon Canning

Simon Canning was Mumbrella's marketing and advertising editor from 2015-2017. In a career spanning journalism and communications over more than 30 years Simon has become one of Australia’s most respected analysts and commentators on the advertising, marketing and media industries. A regular commentator on radio and TV, Simon has also worked in media in the US and UK .

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