Oban Times: "Police apologise to fish farm welfare campaigner"

Mr Staniford, an award-winning campaigner & author, hailed it as ‘watershed victory’. "Police Scotland has effectively reinforced the legality of filming at salmon farms. Salmon farms cannot keep the public out of public waters" https://t.co/Uenouv8FBV @obantimes @policescotland

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 19, 2020

The Oban Times reported (19 October 2020):

Here's the newspaper version published on 22 October 2020:

Front page of today's @obantimes "Police Scotland apologises to fish farm campaigner" @policescotland @scotseafarms @Ecohustler @andrholder https://t.co/cNwnJSMYbH pic.twitter.com/Exe6LqWS9p

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 22, 2020

The day after the online version of the news story was published it was removed.

Scottish Salmon Watch has asked The Oban Times for a comment. Did Police Scotland or Scottish Sea Farms file a complaint with the Editor?

Newspaper removes online article: "Police apologise to fish farm welfare campaigner" https://t.co/cNwnJSMYbH
Did @policescotland or @scotseafarms complain to Editor @obantimes? The owners of The Oban Times – Wyvex Media Group – also own @fishfarmermag https://t.co/dO9DwpMUTx pic.twitter.com/6Q89labH37

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 25, 2020

An online version of the news article still appears online via PressReader:

Following the complaint the article "went back online" dated 26 October 2020 via a new web-link:

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Oct 25, 2020 at 8:42 AM
Subject: Comment re. pulled online story?
To: Editor Oban Times <editor@obantimes.co.uk>, Ellis Butcher <ebutcher@obantimes.co.uk>

Writing a blog tomorrow on the pulled story from the online version: https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/10/19/police-apologise-to-fish-farm-welfare-campaigner/

Do you have any comment?

Thanks,

Don

From: Editor Oban Times <editor@obantimes.co.uk>
Date: Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 10:45 AM
Subject: Re: Comment re. pulled online story?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Mr Staniford, I do not appreciate your insinuation. The story was taken offline while we investigated a complaint. This is standard practice. The investigation was completed late on Friday and the story went back online.

best wishes

Susan Windram

Editor

Editorial

Oban Times

01631 568000

From: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: Comment re. pulled online story?
To: Editor Oban Times <editor@obantimes.co.uk>

Thanks – the new story does not appear in online searches. Thanks for posting back online via https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/10/26/police-apologise-to-fish-farm-welfare-campaigner/

There was no insinuation – it was a fact that the story was pulled.

Who filed the complaint?

Thanks,

Don

From: Editor Oban Times <editor@obantimes.co.uk>
Date: Mon, Oct 26, 2020 at 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: Comment re. pulled online story?
To: Don Staniford <salmonfarmingkills@gmail.com>

Mr Staniford, you'll find the story here… https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/10/26/police-apologise-to-fish-farm-welfare-campaigner/

best wishes

Susan

Editorial

Oban Times

01631 568000

Victory: "Police Apologise to Fish Farm Welfare Campaigner" back online https://t.co/cNwnJSMYbH "The story was taken offline while we investigated a complaint" @obantimes "The investigation was completed late on Friday & the story went back online" @policescotland @scotseafarms

— Don Staniford (@TheGAAIA) October 26, 2020