Consequences of Complaints Procedures
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 34.21% | 55.26% | 10.53% |
| # | 13 | 21 | 4 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Armenia
MEO can also signal the severity of the breach. - Austria
The commission distinghuishes between two levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, it is considered a breach, or a minor breach. - Canada
The commission distinghuishes between two levels of severity. The Council may decide to dismiss, uphold, or dismiss the complaint with reservations - Croatia
The commission distinghuishes between three levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, a warning is given, a severe warning is given, or it is decided that there was a serious breach - Finland
The commission distinghuishes between two levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, it is upheld, or a severe reprimand is given - Germany
The commission distinghuishes between three levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, an advisory notice is issued, the commission voices its disapproval, or the commission issues a reprimand - Iceland
The commission distinghuishes between three levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, the commission issues a warning, it is considered a serious breach, or it is considered a very serious breach - Norway
The commission distinghuishes between two levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, the commission issues a reprimand for a minor flaw, or the commission upholds the complaint for a breach of the ethical code - Québec (Canada)
The commission distinghuishes between three levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, it is considered a minor breach, it is considered a serious breach, or severe blame is given - Slovakia
The commission distinghuishes between three levels of severity. A complaint is either not upheld, the commission issues a caution, the commission can issue its concern, or the commission issues a reprimand
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 36.84% | 57.89% | 5.26% |
| # | 14 | 22 | 2 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Armenia
If the complaint is against media which is member MEO issues a judgment, which has to be published in the media as well as disseminated it through the means available for MEO. If not member – MEO issues expert opinion and just disseminates it through the means available for MEO - Croatia
Disbarment from the journalists' association for current members; up to 2 year membership ban for non-members - Slovenia
Journalists could be banned from the association/union
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 7.89% | 78.95% | 13.16% |
| # | 3 | 30 | 5 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Sweden
When a complaint is upheld, media have to pay a handling fee. This fee amounts to 13.000 SEK for publications with a circulation of fewer than 10.000 copies, and 32.000 SEK for publications with for a circulation of 10.000 or more. Independent online magazines pay 13.000 SEK. - United Kingdom (Impress)
The fines amount to a maximum of 1% of the publisher's annual turnover, capped at 1 million pound
Additional Information, if "No"
- Serbia
However, upheld decisions may indirectly influence the government's willingness to co-finance media content of media outlets.
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 76.32% | 18.42% | 5.26% |
| # | 29 | 7 | 2 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Austria
If the upheld complaint concerns someone who was NOT personally affected (which is rare) - Denmark
This is decided on a case-by-case basis - Germany
In case of a reprimand, the media should publish about the decision
Additional Information, if "No"
- Bulgaria
In some cases, media outlets are asked to publish the decision (but not by default)
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 18.42% | 78.95% | 2.63% |
| # | 7 | 30 | 1 |
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 55.26% | 36.84% | 7.89% |
| # | 21 | 14 | 3 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Austria
14 days - Belgium (Flanders)
Within 14 days - Belgium (Wallonia)
Within 7 days after the Council has sent the decision to the media outlet - Canada
Within a week - Cyprus
Yes - Denmark
As soon as possible - Estonia
Within 10 days - Finland
Immediately - Hungary
Within 7 days - Iceland
No
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 39.47% | 52.63% | 7.89% |
| # | 15 | 20 | 3 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Austria
It should be as prominent as the original article - Belgium (Flanders)
For print media, it should be on a ‘visible spot'. For news websites, the decision has to be on the home page for at least 24 hours, it has to be linked to the original publication, and it should remain on the website for at least 1 year - Belgium (Wallonia)
It should be on the front page of the website for at least 48 hours, and there should be a permanent reference under the archived article/content and/or on the Facebook page of the program that is the subject of the complaint - Canada
A decision should be published in the space normally used for corrections, and the decision, or a link, should be appended to the article if the article is online. - Denmark
Similar prominent place as original article - Finland
Due prominence on the website; the media should publish the decision without further comment - Hungary
It has to have the same amount of exposure - Ireland
In print, the decision has to be given due prominence. For news websites, the decision has to be on the homepage for at least 24 hours. - Norway
In a similar way as the publication that was complained about - Sweden
Though it is recommended that the media publis it in the same section as the original publication
Additional Information, if "No"
- Estonia
However, websites need to place a link to the decision next to the original article
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 44.74% | 44.74% | 10.53% |
| # | 17 | 17 | 4 |
Additional Information, if "Yes"
- Austria
The Senate decides this for each case - Belgium (Flanders)
The decision summary has to be published in the same media form as the original publication, and/or on the website of the media outlet - Belgium (Wallonia)
It always has to be on the website - Canada
A decision should be in the media form or all media forms in which the article appeared. - Denmark
All forms in which the original article was published - Estonia
All forms in which the original article was published - Finland
Has to be in the same outlet type that the decision was about; if the medium has a website, it should be published online as well - Germany
An 'appropriate form'; in the case of news websites, the original article should be edited to include a link to the announcement of the reprimand - Hungary
It has to have the same amount of exposure - Ireland
Same as publication. When a print article was also published online, the latter should be annotated to indicate the decision
Additional Information, if "No"
- North Macedonia
No
| Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Almost always | Always | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | 7.89% | 5.26% | 10.53% | 23.68% | 2.63% | 39.47% | 0% |
| # | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| Yes | No | Unanswered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % | 65.79% | 23.68% | 10.53% |
| # | 25 | 9 | 4 |
Additional Information, if "No"
- Armenia
MEO stops procedure if the case goes to the court. However, MEO may issue opinion if the parties in the Court request it.