Stationary chain Paperchase’s apology for advertising in Daily Mail has been branded an attack on press freedom
Paperchase's scheme to give away wrapping paper in a newspaper has been branded bad for press freedom
AN APOLOGY by Paperchase for giving away wrapping paper in a newspaper has been branded bad for press freedom.
The stationer ran the promotion in the Daily Mail but bowed to pressure following a social media campaign by Stop Funding Hate.
Paperchase offered a grovelling apology and said it would not work with the paper again.
The group’s founder admitted on BBC’s Newsnight it wanted to control the media.
Richard Wilson said: “I think the end point for us is a media that does the job that we want it to.
That upholds the public interest, that treats people fairly.”
Now advertisers’ groups have entered the row by saying those paying for space should not try to influence editorial policy.
The Advertising Association said: “The UK has a free press and advertising plays a vital role in funding that.
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“Pressure group lobbying of this kind has negative implications for our press freedom.”
ISBA, the voice of advertisers, said: “As a basic principle, advertisers must not seek to influence editorial or content policy.
“There are very good reasons for this process. We live in a democracy where publishers are not censored by the Government. We shouldn’t take for granted the freedom of the press.”