PerthNorg

WAN Chairman clueless on ethics

One of the criticisms made of West Australian Newspapers by Kerry Stokes was that the board lacked media experience. The veracity of this was vividly illustrated at Wednesday's EGM by WAN's Chairman Peter Mansell, who has been with the company for SEVEN years and yet is not familiar with the AJA's Code of Ethics. It just defies belief. Does he not realise he's the Chairman of a NEWSPAPER? Perhaps he doesn't have time to read very much; he is also Chairman of Western Power, Zinifex and ThinkSmart. Then there are his other directorships...

Here are the last two sentences of the AAP report on the Stokes/WAN confrontation:

Meanwhile, a representative for the journalists' union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, asked why WAN had not responded to a letter requesting the company adopt the journalists' code of ethics.

Mr Mansell surprised shareholders and stunned media in attendance when he admitted he was not familiar with the code.

AAP's article appeared on The West's web site but I'm thinking it would be a brave editor who includes THAT information in The West's wrap up on Thursday's dead tree. I'm thinking it would be an ex-editor.

The Australian and the Fairfax press, who have both provided far more coverage of this West Australian business drama than the local rag and who both subscribe to the Code of Ethics will happily cover it.