During the meeting in the Press Committees last week participated deputy Øystein Stray Spetalen for the first time. The appointment of the renowned investor as deputy in the sample were of Anders Giæver VG featured as a joke. Giæver describes Spetalen as “press sworn enemy.”
Giæver writes in the commentary: “Had PFU been a proper court and Spetalen a potential lay judge or juror, he would of course be declared incompetent.”
Should been on time
And although PFU only are judgmental, does not mean that impartiality is shelved. In nearly every council happens that one of the committee members should on time because of disqualification. Usually applies when the medium to one of the members of the press are appealed.
But it also happens occasionally that members of the public have disqualified. How precisely Spetalen made an appeal against TV 2 and Hjeltnes . The investor stated that Hjeltnes is a good friend and that he therefore could not deal with the complaint against the program. Along with TV 2 Øyvind Brigg he pulled out at a time.
When the case was processed, came Spetalen again. It was he supposed not to have done. For according to General Kjersti Loken Stavrum was a miss that Spetalen was present during the assessment of whether Dagbladet had broken good press with his commercial for the Armed Forces. Spetalen and former ambulance driver Erik Schjenken is considered disqualified when matters relating to Dagbladet comes up for consideration.
The background is primarily Spetalen lawsuit against Dagbladet, where he first won on the court and later went to the settlement with the media house in the Court of Appeal. Money Spetalen were joined from the settlement will go to a fund for people who find themselves victims of abuse in the media. Spetalen have told journalist that although so far no one has received money from the fund, he plans to maintain it.
Helped Schjenken
The second reason Spetalen impartiality is challenged, he helped Schjenken in his lawsuit against Dagbladet. The investor fielded financial guarantees for the ambulance driver.
When the two were nominated as deputies in PFU last year, authored Dagbladet chief editor John Arne Markussen a memo to the board of the Norwegian Press Association at the end of June 2014, where he uttered concern about the two new deputy meant disqualification. Dialogue between Markussen and Press Association lasted until well into September.
The conclusion of the Board was that the two can not consistently be declared disqualified, but that it be considered from case to case.
Henrik Syse has represented public in the selection of further twelve years, is clearly the longest serving current members. He has during this period even declared himself incompetent three times. Last just before Christmas, because he knew one of the petitioners.
– The threshold for declaring incapacity must be moderate. There should be no doubt that there are linkages to those who are involved in making decisions. Candidates must also even feel comfortable about being on decisions.
Sysendammen adds that there can not be such that a member be excluded because he or she has had with a person to do before.
– I’ve been a writer in Aftenposten and in Our Country and received payment for this. I’m not incompetent because of it.
The experienced representative says it is important that the committee spend time impartiality and discuss this thoroughly so that no any doubt in question.
A missing
Spetalen should therefore not have come back to the conference table when the case against TV 2 was processed.
– It was a miss, says Secretary General Kjersti Løken Stavrum . She explains that the circumstances of the complaint, that it was text ads it was about, did that she was not completely sharpened the question of hablilitet.
– But he did not affect the outcome with his presence, she said.
The Secretary General says otherwise it will not be natural Schjenken and Spetalen being called as deputies simultaneously, because of the relationship the two from.
Markussen Dagbladet confirms that Loken Stavrum called him to inform the slot and lament that Spetalen was present during the processing of the complaint against the media house.
– He should not have been in the room, he is disqualified. We had an agreement with Press Association to ensure impartiality, says chief editor.
The question is how long Spetalen and Schjenken should be under impartiality scrutiny.
– There is nothing like may apply in forever, says Secretary General .
She envisions that in the first place is natural to consider for the current period. That means habliteten to the two assessed case by case until autumn 2016.
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