Letter to the AFR about misleading headline
29 November 2004
Dear Sir
I refer to the article, "CBA unit for sale at right price" (AFR, 29 Nov). It is a classic example of a headline which bears no resemblance to the material within an article. Stuart Grimshaw made very clear to the journalist that the Bank was not looking to sell the First State International business and responded to a question around potential sale with the obvious retort that the Bank would only look at an offer if it substantially exceeded the value of the business (that is, a "silly offer"). While we understand the need to sell newspapers based on attention-grabbing headlines, please refrain from hyperbole when it clearly misrepresents the position of the Bank.
Yours sincerely
Bryan Fitzgerald
General Manager Communication, Community and Reputation