New Idea apologises for breaking Prince Harry embargo

by Staff, Brand Republic 10-Mar-08, 15:35

SYDNEY - The Australian magazine that broke the embargo on reporting Prince Harry's deployment with the British Army in Afghanistan has apologised for publishing a picture of him in January.

New Idea had published a picture of Prince Harry in an edition of the weekly magazine as well as on its website, showing him in Afghanistan.

It claimed that it did not realise that the media had agreed to a blackout of any news that he had been sent on a tour of duty to Helmland.

The breach may have gone unnoticed if it were not for the political news and gossip blog the Drudge Report, which picked up on the New Idea story and brought it to worldwide attention.

Ironically the New Idea story had gone pretty much unnoticed until that point.

As a result, Prince Harry was quickly returned back home and the British media began yet another bout of soul searching -- this time over the rights and wrongs of agreeing to suppress a story of wide public interest.

New Idea, which had already garnered the not-so-affectionate nickname 'No Idea' in its home country, has published a short apology in its latest issue. It reads: "We did not knowingly breach any embargo and were not party to any agreement for a media blackout on the story.

"However, and more importantly, we do acknowledge that our actions in publishing the story can be reasonably viewed as insensitive and irresponsible."

This week's issue of New Idea carries a story about former Baywatch star Jaason Simmons plans to marry his boyfriend and adopt a child; and the news that the crisis in the marriage of Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt to a soap actress is over.