Update: Sir Bob it is then!

We received a reply from ABC's Complaints Review Executive to a review of our complaint about the use of Sir as a moniker for Bob Geldof. According to Wikipedia: "Bob Geldof was awarded an honorary knighthood (as Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II, in 1986.^[64]Geldof is entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KBE", but as he is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm, he is precluded from using the title "Sir". Regardless, the nickname 'Sir Bob' has stuck, and media reports will frequently (but erroneously) refer to him as 'Sir Bob Geldof' as if that were his correct title."


Seems ABC is happy to promulgate factual errors! No surprise really. The reply from the Complaints Review Executive appears below in full. They appear to have entirely missed the point!
Regards
Sir Marc



REVIEW OF COMPLAINT
Received 10 May 2010
Background
A request for review was received on 21 April 2010 from a New South Wales listener dissatisfied with a response from ABC Audience and Consumer Affairs (A&CA). It was acknowledged on 22 April with advice that the
Complaints Review Executive would aim to complete the review by 19 May.
Content
During a News bulletin on Radio National, broadcast on 8 March 2010 the complainant claimed Bob Geldof was referred to as ‘Sir’ Bob Geldof, in addition to other references cited.
Correspondence
The complainant wrote on 7 and 8 March that the ‘ABC continues to inappropriately title Bob Geldof’. He quoted an entry in the Public Report on Audience Comments and Complaints – October – December 2005 ‐
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/Public_Report_Oct_Dec_2005.pdf
ABC Classic FM ‐ News
16 September 2005
The complaint
A listener objected to the use of the honorary title “Sir” in relation to Bob Geldof in a news report. He pointed out that Mr Geldof has an honorary knighthood, which does not entitle him to the use of the title “Sir”.
Finding
The ABC acknowledged the error.

The complainant wrote that ‘Bob Geldof is entitled to use the post‐nominal letters KBE, but as he is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm, he is precluded from using the title Sir’. In all he listed seven examples which referred to Bob Geldof as ‘Sir’ Bob Geldof and asked that the ‘ABC conduct a global search and replace of its archive to correct these numerous errors’.
A&CA responded on 21 April acknowledging ‘that Bob Geldof is not officially ‘Sir Bob’, however, the use of ‘Sir Bob’ has become common across the media..…’. News journalists have been reminded that ‘Sir’ Bob Geldof is not officially correct. A&CA wrote that they believed the overall accuracy of the stories was not comprised.

Basis of Assessment
Section 13.3.2 of the Editorial Policies notes that the ABC is not required to respond to complaints received more than six months after the broadcast to which they refer. Of the seven examples offered by the complainant three date from 2007 and three from 2009, all more than six months ago now. The link provided by the complainant from publicity for the Compass television program was received by A&CA within the required six months, but as it was not referred to in the response I am unable to review that particular example. That leaves the most recent news report on Radio National for consideration. This is categorised as News and Current Affairs content, and as such is required to meet standards in section 5 of ABC Editorial Policies.
Assessment I have examined the transcript of the item. While the complainant wrote ‘we are quite sure we heard use of the name ‘Sir’ Bob Geldof..’ the transcript does not support this contention. The introduction of the item referred to ‘Singer Bob Geldof..’ and the reporter referred to ‘campaigner Bob Geldof’, but there is no evidence in the material currently available that the word ‘Sir’ was used. I note the general reply to the complainant by A&CA which has acknowledged common usage of ‘Sir’, but which added that this is ‘not officially correct’ and that News staff had been advised. Accordingly I consider this issue, particularly bearing in mind the proportional weight of
the concern, has been finally and adequately canvassed and considered.
Finding
Having assessed the content, considered the complainant’s concerns and reviewed the ABC’s response, I consider that ABC editorial requirements were not breached. Therefore the complaint is not upheld.

Update: Sir Bob Okay at Auntie

COMMENT: ABC have replied to our complaint about the incorrect use of the term "Sir" for Bob Geldof. Reading the reply it seems ABC is happy to suspend its editorial policies concerning facts and accuracy in this matter (where will it end?). Hence from here on in corresponding with Auntie we shall preface our name with the appropriate title, afterall it's almost a nickname.
Sir Marc.
PS We have forwarded this complaint on to the Complaint Review Executive for further action.

Received 21 April 2010

I am advised by ABC News that they recognise that Bob Geldof is not officially ‘Sir Bob’, however, the use of ‘Sir Bob’ has become common across the media, almost as a nickname. ABC News has reminded staff that ‘Sir Bob Geldof’ is not officially correct, but they accept that stories and programs will occasionally use ‘Sir’ and most audience members would be familiar with this usage.   ABC News have changed a few recent cases online from ‘Sir Bob Geldof’ to ‘Bob Geldof’, but the division does not plan to go back and change all online references as you suggest.

On review, and while noting your point that Audience and Consumer Affairs upheld a complaint on this issue some five years ago, on further consideration we are satisfied that the approach by ABC News is not in contravention of ABC editorial standards for accuracy.  We do not believe that the overall accuracy of the stories is compromised by using the title “Sir” in relation to Bob Geldof.

Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments are noted and have been raised with ABC News management.

Yours sincerely
Audience & Consumer Affairs

From the vault - The Sir Geldof saga...does the ABC learn from its mistakes?

Updated 21 April-reply received from ABC-see outcome


ABC NEWS WATCH is quite sure it heard use of the name "Sir" Bob Geldof in a news report on ABC Radio National Breakfast at around 8.00 am on Monday 8/3/2010 (NSW). Use of the title "Sir" for Bob Geldof is of course incorrect as the ABC is aware. 
This post started off "From the vault" but this is one factual error that won't go away.

ABC Classic FM - News 16 September 2005
The complaint
A listener objected to the use of the honorary title “Sir” in relation to Bob Geldof in a news report. He pointed out that Mr Geldof has an honorary knighthood, which does not entitle him to the use of the title “Sir”.
Finding: The ABC acknowledged the error.
http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/documents/Public_Report_Oct_Dec_2005.pdf

Nothing has changed since this complaint was upheld. Geldof is entitled to use the post-nominal letters "KBE", but as he is not a citizen of a Commonwealth realm, he is precluded from using the title "Sir" (from wikipedia). 


SO WHY DID THE ABC CONTINUE TO USE THE TITLE FOLLOWING THIS COMPLAINT BEING UPHELD?
Sir Bob Geldof 8/3/2010 ABC News report Radio National 8.00 am
Sir Geldof 20/9/2009 http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s2680053.htm
Sir Geldof 6/5/2009 http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/netw/200905/programs/ZY5705A002D6052009T140000.htm
Sir Geldof 2/4/2009 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/02/2533750.htm
Sir Geldof 19/11/2007 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/19/2094738.htm
Sir Geldof 19/11/2007 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/19/2095123.htm
Sir Geldof 16/5/2007 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/05/16/1924110.htm

THE COMPLAINT: Factual error. Can ABC conduct a global search and replace of its archive to correct these numerous errors, and perhaps flag future uses of Bob Geldof's name to ensure the same mistake isn't repeated.
OUTCOME: I am advised by ABC News that they recognise that Bob Geldof is not officially ‘Sir Bob’, however, the use of ‘Sir Bob’ has become common across the media, almost as a nickname. ABC News has reminded staff that ‘Sir Bob Geldof’ is not officially correct, but they accept that stories and programs will occasionally use ‘Sir’ and most audience members would be familiar with this usage.   ABC News have changed a few recent cases online from ‘Sir Bob Geldof’ to ‘Bob Geldof’, but the division does not plan to go back and change all online references as you suggest.

On review, and while noting your point that Audience and Consumer Affairs upheld a complaint on this issue some five years ago, on further consideration we are satisfied that the approach by ABC News is not in contravention of ABC editorial standards for accuracy.  We do not believe that the overall accuracy of the stories is compromised by using the title “Sir” in relation to Bob Geldof.

Nonetheless, please be assured that your comments are noted and have been raised with ABC News management.

Yours sincerely
Audience & Consumer Affairs

We have passed the matter on to the Complaints review executive-see HERE.

"From the Vault" - digging up past corrections and clarifications from the ABC archives (and sometimes re-living them again and again and again.)