DAN HARRIS AGAINST NEWSHUB

Overview

This complaint is about a headline published by Newshub on August 18, 2021 which read‘Dan’s a dickhead’; Kiwis mock UK TV host’s claim NZ in a ‘never-ending nightmare.’

Mr Harris said it was not appropriate to use obscene language to promote an article. Children could read the headline and it was not appropriate for children to pick up this word.

Dickhead is a commonly used word of light condemnation and is not an obscenity. Its use would not in our view offend most New Zealanders, particularly when used in this chiding way. Mr Harris may think it inappropriate and he is entitled to that opinion but its use does not breach any Media Council principles.

There are insufficient grounds to proceed.