The Druid Network is a member of the Pagan and Heathen Symposium, and took an active part in the formulation of this statement on the recent IPSO rebuttal of complaints, following the Beltane news item in The Sun tabloid. We stand in solidarity with the other pagan organisations named within the statement.
IPSO appeal statement
The Pagan and Heathen Symposium is a collection of diverse UK Pagan and Heathen organisations who have joined together to represent our members and our community through a shared platform. Member organisations are listed here:
http://pagansymposium.org/
We find there are some key areas where we specifically disagree with the findings of IPSO, as follows:
“Many complainants also said that this article breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) as it stated that “Tonight is the Eve of Beltane. An important festival for many assorted oddballs”. Complainants said this was inaccurate as pagans and witches were not “oddballs” and this was unsupported by the text. As previously explained, the Editors’ Code makes clear that the press has the right to give its own opinion and to publish individuals’ views, as long as it takes care to distinguish between comment, conjecture and fact. In this instance, “oddballs” was clearly the columnist’s own characterisation of pagans and witches, appearing as it did in an opinion piece. It was not a statement of fact and there was therefore no possible breach of Clause 1 on this point.”
There does not appear to be any disclaimer on the Sun website indicating that the comments are solely the views of the columnist. Therefore, it might not be unreasonable to assume that those comments and views are also held by the editor, and The Sun, in general. The same might be assumed for all Comment pieces in the Sun, making it difficult to distinguish between pieces intended to be factual news items and those intended to be opinions of the columnist alone.
“Many complainants said that this article breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) as it stated that “Normally they would be stripped off and shagging goats around a blazing fire . . . or something”. Complainants said this was inaccurate as neither pagans nor witches engage in such activity. We again note that this statement appeared in the context of an opinion piece. We note that the phrase “…or something” distanced the author from the literal meaning of the claim and indicated that it was an attempt at humour or satire. For these reasons, we considered that this statement was clearly the hyperbolic and satirical opinion of the writer, rather than a statement of fact. Further, the Preamble to the Editors’ Code makes clear that the Code should not be interpreted in a way that infringes the right to challenge, shock, be satirical and to entertain. There was therefore no possible breach of Clause 1 on this point.”
The ‘shagging goats around a blazing fire’ allusion, is one that appears in works of fiction. However, it has also appeared in ill-informed accusations of animal abuse levelled against Pagans and occultists, and the ‘…..or something.’ addition could easily be interpreted by an ill informed public to allude to even worse crimes that have their roots in fiction and have been made as accusations levelled against Pagans and occultists. There is no clarity in the piece that the statement was intended as the hyperbolic and satirical opinion of the writer, or that the views opined in the piece were intended to challenge, shock, be satirical or to entertain.
Consequently, the piece might easily be perceived as a factual report. For academic points of reference on Beltane, we would suggest columnists might refer to the OED:
https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095457866?fbclid=IwAR1ezND1rDBB4fZ9v75iqpAhXmDkmw7odmhUuI1Jv40KTfa4Ev51Ek6Ycmw
Encyclopaedia Britannica might be used as another source:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beltane
You may note, that in neither esteemed publication, is any reference made to sexual relations with animals.
A key concern for us, therefore, is that the comment piece is not clearly indicated as anything other than factual views held by both the columnist and the editor, and that the consequences of this might be that the general public, including their children, will believe the comments are factual and will react to Pagans and witches they may encounter in ways that express their views on animal abuse. We would hope to see some correction of any misunderstandings and false impressions readers might have made as a result of the column.
We would also like to offer some suggestions for modification of the editors code of practice:
1. Articles intended as satire or humour should be clearly indicated as such if they are not in a satirical publication.
2. Opinion pieces should be identified as solely the views of the columnist and not necessarily held by the editor.
3. Rule 12 Discrimination currently only covers individuals, this should be extended to cover groups and communities to more effectively to protect minorities.
Signed:
Mike Stygal Independent coordinator
Philip John Parkyn The Troth, Kith of the Tree and the Well
Geoff Miles Kith of the Tree and the well, AUK
Paul Pearson Greenmantle
Tallis Harrill Greenmantle
Neil Pitchford The Druid Network
Steffy VonScott Scottish Pagan Federation, Temple of Sumer
Sarah Kerr Pagan Federation
Merlyn Hern Children of Artemis Witchfest
Emlyn Price Centre for Pagan Studies Doreen Valiente Foundation
Julie Payne Centre for Pagan Studies Doreen Valiente Foundation
Caitlin Matthews Fellowship of Isis
Andrew Pardy Police Pagan Association
Rich Blackett AUK
Kevin Groves Kemetic Temple UK
Lyn Baylis Liferights
Philip Shallcrass British Druid Order
Diane Narraway Clan Dolmen/Clan Dolmen Chronicles
Andy Norfolk Ancient Sacred Landscapes Network?
June Kent Indie Shaman
Dan Coultas DPN
Jennifer Susan Uzzell Consultant to the Religion and Media Centre