Today I am ashamed to be a journalist :o(
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Topic: Today I am ashamed to be a journalist :o(
Posted By: Maya
Subject: Today I am ashamed to be a journalist :o(
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 2:33pm
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News coverage of the two recent disasters has left a very bad taste in my mouth, I feel almost embarrassed to be a journalist. I mean, I know it's a dream come true for the media to have two disasters occur back to back, talk about guaranteed headlines, but IMO our major news organisations have shown some very debatable ethics in their decisions what to screen/print.
Today I popped into Countdown to get some veges and while I was standing in the queue to check out I had a brief look at the headlines on the Sunday newspapers. One of them (Sunday News) had a 2/3 page pic of the mother of one of the children killed in the canyoning tragedy crying her eyes out. What an appalling intrusion into her grief! Last week the Herald ran an equally as shocking picture of Derek Lovell's widow AT HIS FUNERAL!! And for what, to sell a newspaper? It didn't make me want to buy it, it just made me feel sick. Yesterday's Weekend Herald was only marginally better, and I haven't been brave enough to get the Sunday Herald out of the letterbox yet, too scared what I might find 
And don't even get me started on the television news. I can really only comment on TV3 as we don't watch TV1, but they have made some bad, bad calls lately IMO. During coverage of the funeral for the firefighter who died in the coolstore fire they showed a brief picture of one of the injured firefighters at the service, despite the fact that media presence there was conditional on them NOT showing images of the injured firefighters who attended. And during this week, their exploitation of the victims of the canyoning disaster has been equally as dodgy. I cannot believe they took TV cameras into a school full of shocked and grieving teenagers less than 24 hours after the news broke and not only filmed, but INTERVIEWED these very vulnerable children. Tasteless and inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the media has a very important role to play in an open and democratic society, and that there is a high level of public interest in tragedies such as this, for the most part so that members of the public can grieve with, and support, those who have been directly affected. But when I was training to be a journalist, one of the papers I took was all about media ethics, and whilst some people might argue that there is no such thing (and lets face it, we are a dodgy lot  ), there is actually a code of ethics which we are required to adhere to. And one of the most important ones on that list IMO is to respect the rights of private citizens to grieve in private. This ALWAYS outweighs the right of the public to be informed. I just cannot see how recent coverage of these two tragedies has preserved and respected these rights? But hey, I'm sure it sold papers, and attracted viewers..
I am so very ashamed, and embarrassed. And I'm sorry for the families caught up in these tragedies who have been exploited during the worst times in their lives, all for a headline and the almighty dollar. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 2:45pm
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The only news I watch is Sky News NZ/OZ and they had coverage of the first funeral (i'm also guessing that they got their coverage from TV3 due to the partnership sky and TV3 have) and while it was only a small report I do think that they did go over the top a little. We didn't need to see that poor family grief for their son (whos birthday it is today), and I didn't like that it was an open casket (just my feelings I don't like them) and they kept showing to boys arms when ever the story was on (I usually leave the news on in the morning so see the story about 4-5 times). I do know there is an ethics paper in media studies, and I do think it is about time the media starting thinking that if that was THEIR family would they want the cameras and reporters there - probably not. And I don't buy the paper so they do miss out on my money there. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 2:59pm
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There will be more, that was just the first funeral, they are staggering them over the next week so that those that want to can attend.
I thought it was pretty awful too. poor buggers ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 3:04pm
| I was actually shocked at a photo in todays Herald of one of the funerals which was an open casket and you could partially see the body inside which was not really necessary was it? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 3:07pm
Yep, like I said, a media dream
Red - please tell me that wasn't the Sunday Herald? Now I *really* don't want to go out and bring it in... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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fleury wrote:Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 3:14pm
| Sorry, yes it was ..... |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 3:20pm
 ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 3:38pm
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Also think its off that just because it is a christian school, the media feels it has a right to question the parents on their belief in god after the accident. If it had been a state school would they question it?
Just seems wrong to question them while they are grieving the loss of a child. -------------  
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Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 4:09pm
Having just had the media intrude on our family grieving after a tragedy, it makes me feel especially sick seeing this stuff. Enough to not watch the news this week anyway. They were disgusting - waiting outside the hospital, then parking up outside the family home, then hiding in the bushes with big cameras outside the funeral.  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 7:09pm
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Well I finally brought the paper in, and it appears it gets worse. I saw the pic Red mentioned, which is IMO entirely inappropriate, but then in his regular column Paul Holmes is "thanking" the families for "allowing" the media to intrude on them, as if they had any choice, or are any position to give informed consent. And to think I've always respected Holmes... ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 7:16pm
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What is the pic of in the paper?? I had a look online and it was a distant photo of the casket. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 8:06pm
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Annnd I am sick of them showing open caskets and dead bodies on the news. What a huge intrusion on the dead persons dignity, its not like they can say oh hey, no not on the tele thanks. I felt sick last night sitting down with my children and takeaways in the lounge last night, watching the news and seeing a shot of a body in an open coffin.
Let the poor families grieve in private and QUIT asking them if it shakes their faith in God. And quit looking for "new angles" on the story. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Jennz
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 8:25pm
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Where does it come from? I know they're looking for new angles etc but isn't about meeting demand- what the 'consumer' wants, doubt you'll find many news readers who want to see an open coffin of a child. Its like they're being lazy- instead of writing good articles they're just showing sensational pictures and using that to sell papers rather than good old fashioned talent and research.
Boycott I say! ------------- Jen, Charlotte 7 & Kate 3 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 8:59pm
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I definitely considered cancelling my subscription to the Weekend/Sunday Heralds, but there's nothing else and I do enjoy reading the paper on the weekends when I have the time. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 9:25pm
They have certainly focused on it but I wonder it's because such a positive side of Christianity portrayed? The parents love and unwavering faith in God has been displayed clearly. The parents are greiving but their happiness in knowing where thier son is was also evident in the coverage I saw...it's no doubt something that would be focused on by the media and people not getting thier heads around how the parents/school/church can NOT blame God and still display such amazing faith in this time. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 20 April 2008 at 9:37pm
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I must say, that has made me evaluate my own faith. The fact that there seems to be no blame and they are able to rejoice in such a tragic time is really inspiring, I'm not sure my faith would be that strong, it would definitely be a test. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 1:09pm
I agree on this, I hate seeing dead bodies on the news. I remember being really young and seeing one on the internet and feeling really weird for days so hate that my kids can see it so easily. I understand why people have open coffins but we don't need to see it on the news. Although I do think it hasn't been as bad as some other things this week. I think the principal handled it so well and they put the people forward to speak who were ok to talk so the media didn't really go after the survivors. I like how they haven't really made much of a deal on whos fault it is. I did not like how they showed a dead body (of that man who died overseas in a different canyoning thing) in a harness under the helicopter, totally unecessary. |
Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 4:19pm
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I have to say, I have inspired by the school and the parents in their attitude about what has happened. I'm sure they are going through hell at the moment, but I have been so impressed about how they are actually living out their beliefs at a time that must be full of indescribable pain and suffering. I do appreciate that the media has taken a neutral approach about things like their faith (religion and beliefs are often portrayed in a negative light) - that has probably meant the school/families are more happy to cooperate and publicly commerate their kids. ------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 5:28pm
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I've been really inspired by thier display of faith too, sometimes it's the hardest thing in the world to accept God's will or to accept when He hasn't stepped in, you wouldn't blame them if they were angry at God. But instead thier faith blows me away. Makes me realise that in some ways mine has been lacking over the last few weeks and I need to be closer with God again.
And by their faith making others of us question where we are at, then that is something so incredibly positive. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 5:30pm
Sorry just realised how sermony that probably sounds! 
Not to mention the threadjack! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 10:48pm
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I do think the meida has crossed hte line lately on some of their coverage the worst i saw was tv3 and cambell live at the scence of hte the camp doing this big speech about how quiet it was etcthen you get this shot of an abulace with a bodybag in I found this incrediablly sad and in year's to come the famileis are going to see this and I bet it would hurt. I do how erver think like other's have said the families have prob welcomed ht epositive attention on their faith so ofteer the christain faith is potrayed in the news vet negitavily and this time it has not. I do beleve this was the one good thing to come out of all the media attention. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 21 April 2008 at 11:29pm
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the worst i saw was both me and my dad who is 1 of nz's fire service chiefs were both shocked that one of the news channels was allowed to show graphic photos of the deceased fireman lying on the ground covered in blood etc on the news it was a full close up head shot of him, i thought that was absolutley appauling
it would have been totally gut wrenching for his family to see that. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 1:41pm
I didn't realise that was the dead man I thought it was just one of the hurt ones. Thats terrible. |
Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 22 April 2008 at 8:38pm
I never saw that thank goodness, but weather he was the dead or live one it is still awful to show that kind of thing on the news we put our kids to bed by 6 now as the news has got so grafic. and as for the fire coverage we just could not let our boy's see that as daddy is a fire fighter. the other thing I have noticed lately we now get graffic decription's on all sort's of thing like the baby twin boy's that died I don't believe we need all the detail's on the exact injuries I am not saying we should turn a blind eye, but I don't want to know the gory detail's. ------------- Deborah Mum to:
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 23 April 2008 at 4:15pm
my 5yr old saw it and was really upset as she thought it was her grandad, i had to take her to see my dad to prove it wasnt him! they do give really gory details latley often a bit TMI ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |