Does it cost anything to lodge a complaint?
No, it is entirely free.
What are the possible outcomes if a complaint is upheld
If a complaint, or a part thereof, is upheld, the Press Ombud or the Appeals Panel may direct the publication to apologise, and/or to retract a statement, and/or reprimand or caution a publication, and/or sanction a publication in any other suitable manner. Such sanctions will be published with appropriate prominence.
Can I expect financial compensation?
No.
Does the Press Council offer training on the Press Code?
Yes. Members of the public and our subscriber members can request the Executive Director and/or members of the Ombuds Panel to conduct training seminars on the Code. Electronic and printed copies of the Decoding the Code – sentence by sentence is available on request. All requests must be submitted to: enquiries@ombudsman.org.za.