*JK against the Otago Daily Times

The Otago Daily Times published an article on May 29, 2025, titled ‘Bat’ photo not worth batting an eye over.

This complaint is about a grainy photo taken in a Dunedin park by the complainant of a shape that it was suggested by him was a non-indigenous bat.    The photograph was in an article published in the Otago Daily Times. The article reported that when the photo and suggestion were placed on social media there was a strong reaction of disbelief.  Biosecurity NZ and DOC said they had investigated a possible sighting of a native Australian bat but found no evidence of such a creature in Dunedin. It was suggested on social media that the photo may have been a leaf clusters resembling the shape of flying foxes. The article included some wry comments from people who had seen the photo on-line.

*JK complained the Otago Daily Times had breached Media Council Principle (1) Accuracy, Fairness and Balance as it had published comment on his photo without giving him the chance to respond. In his view it was potentially harmful to mock people who made similar reports to DOC.

“Your article is trying to make me out as an idiot or someone trying to start a hoax. I feel incredibly embarrassed and powerless since you posted a lie without allowing me to defend my case.”

It would have been good practice to have sought comment from the photographer interpretation instead of just sending it up.  We can understand *JK’s feelings when a photo posted in good faith was mocked by some people and treated so light heartedly.

Fortunately, he was saved from public embarrassment as the article did not name him.  Given the light-hearted nature of the article, and the fact that the lack of any further evidence would tend to indicate that the photo was not of a foreign bat, the Media Council does not think that this complaint can succeed.

Decision:  No grounds to proceed.