Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 12, 2007 19:56:41 GMT
While the subject of the Telegraph article below is whether or not the BBC are biased in favour of the McCann parents, I decided it doesn't really belong in the 'bias' section of the forum. I think it's natural that if a parent loses a child it is natural to give them sympathy, and any bias displayed by the media is largely a result of that human reaction.
I have to say that something about the behaviour of the McCann's since the beginning of Maddie's disappearance has felt bizarre, and one point in particular I notice none of the media has touched upon.
In the beginning I felt the media attention the McCann's were drawing to the supposed abduction was to deflect criticism of themselves for having left the children alone to begin with. That by showing how concerned they were after the fact, by dedicating themselves now to finding her, would forgive them for not being concerned enough beforehand to having hired a nanny for example, if they wanted to go out in the evening with friends.
Then reflecting on the fact that few other parents whos' child has been abducted have ever gone to these lengths to publicize internationally the picture and plight of their child, and it occured to me that the greater people are able to recognize the child, the more chance that they will be killed by the abductors. So this campaign, while outwardly was about finding Maddy, actually greatly increased the chance that she would never be recovered alive.
While I have no idea if either of the McCann's are guilty of any wrong doing directly towards Maddy, I find something suspicious in how they acted in the aftermath.
As the article below points out, when the BBC ran a radio discussion on the subject of the McCann's return to the UK, they were astounded by the number of callers that were hostile to the McCann's. Considering that it has not been the media line, and especially not the BBC's, to in any way castigate them, it shows the media doesn't brainwash the public in all things.
I have to say that something about the behaviour of the McCann's since the beginning of Maddie's disappearance has felt bizarre, and one point in particular I notice none of the media has touched upon.
In the beginning I felt the media attention the McCann's were drawing to the supposed abduction was to deflect criticism of themselves for having left the children alone to begin with. That by showing how concerned they were after the fact, by dedicating themselves now to finding her, would forgive them for not being concerned enough beforehand to having hired a nanny for example, if they wanted to go out in the evening with friends.
Then reflecting on the fact that few other parents whos' child has been abducted have ever gone to these lengths to publicize internationally the picture and plight of their child, and it occured to me that the greater people are able to recognize the child, the more chance that they will be killed by the abductors. So this campaign, while outwardly was about finding Maddy, actually greatly increased the chance that she would never be recovered alive.
While I have no idea if either of the McCann's are guilty of any wrong doing directly towards Maddy, I find something suspicious in how they acted in the aftermath.
As the article below points out, when the BBC ran a radio discussion on the subject of the McCann's return to the UK, they were astounded by the number of callers that were hostile to the McCann's. Considering that it has not been the media line, and especially not the BBC's, to in any way castigate them, it shows the media doesn't brainwash the public in all things.
BBC: We are 'not biased' towards Madeleine McCann parents
By Sophie Borland
Last Updated: 5:17pm BST 12/09/2007
The BBC has denied claims that it is biased in favour of the McCanns as the hunt for their daughter continues.
The corporation has recently come under fire from viewers saying reports of the story have given the couple, who have been named suspects in the case, too much positive publicity.
Peter Horrocks, the head of BBC News, strongly denied such claims and insisted that in contrast to the reports of its rivals, the BBC has been fair and accurate.
Writing about the McCanns on his blog on the BBC website, he says: "We’ve interviewed them a number of times and clearly when they give their point of view, some people ask why we are providing them with a platform.
"I don’t think we have been biased in favour of them. In particular we’ve stressed all along, but especially in the past few days, how important it is not to refer to them by their Christian name."
Some viewers had suggested that one of the reasons that the McCanns had been treated in such a positive light was because that they were white, middle class doctors.
Mr Horrocks denied the claims and said they were purely speculation.
He continued: "Debates about whether they’ve been treated in particular way because they’re of a certain class, for instance, is just speculation - individuals’ own views.
"People are entitled to their own views, but I don’t think that should form part of our news coverage."
In contrast to other channels, the BBC insists it has remained impartial throughout its coverage and Horrocks went on to attack rival networks for their "overfamiliarity" with the couple.
He wrote: "I know that many other TV and radio networks have been absolutely extraordinary, always talking about it in terms of sympathy and their feelings.
"It’s a highly charged story, but we have to be as even-handed as we can and stick to the facts."
He said that the story had provoked huge interest and cited figures revealing that the number of viewers watching BBC News rose by one or two million over the weekend.
Meanwhile the number of people reading the McCann story on the website had been four or five times greater than any other story, he added.
Earlier this week the BBC was forced to abandon a phone-in on Radio Five Live after it prompted outrage from angry listeners.
Presenter Victoria Derbyshire asked whether people still had sympathy for the McCanns since recent the accusations on her Monday breakfast-time slot.
Dozens of listeners contacted the show to say they did not believe it was a suitable subject for discussion whilst the legal procedures were still ongoing.
The reaction was so strong that producers changed the subject of the phone-in to whether or not the McCann case should be discussed at all.
Listeners voted overwhelmingly by 68 per cent to 32 per cent that it was not a topic for debate.
By Sophie Borland
Last Updated: 5:17pm BST 12/09/2007
The BBC has denied claims that it is biased in favour of the McCanns as the hunt for their daughter continues.
The corporation has recently come under fire from viewers saying reports of the story have given the couple, who have been named suspects in the case, too much positive publicity.
Peter Horrocks, the head of BBC News, strongly denied such claims and insisted that in contrast to the reports of its rivals, the BBC has been fair and accurate.
Writing about the McCanns on his blog on the BBC website, he says: "We’ve interviewed them a number of times and clearly when they give their point of view, some people ask why we are providing them with a platform.
"I don’t think we have been biased in favour of them. In particular we’ve stressed all along, but especially in the past few days, how important it is not to refer to them by their Christian name."
Some viewers had suggested that one of the reasons that the McCanns had been treated in such a positive light was because that they were white, middle class doctors.
Mr Horrocks denied the claims and said they were purely speculation.
He continued: "Debates about whether they’ve been treated in particular way because they’re of a certain class, for instance, is just speculation - individuals’ own views.
"People are entitled to their own views, but I don’t think that should form part of our news coverage."
In contrast to other channels, the BBC insists it has remained impartial throughout its coverage and Horrocks went on to attack rival networks for their "overfamiliarity" with the couple.
He wrote: "I know that many other TV and radio networks have been absolutely extraordinary, always talking about it in terms of sympathy and their feelings.
"It’s a highly charged story, but we have to be as even-handed as we can and stick to the facts."
He said that the story had provoked huge interest and cited figures revealing that the number of viewers watching BBC News rose by one or two million over the weekend.
Meanwhile the number of people reading the McCann story on the website had been four or five times greater than any other story, he added.
Earlier this week the BBC was forced to abandon a phone-in on Radio Five Live after it prompted outrage from angry listeners.
Presenter Victoria Derbyshire asked whether people still had sympathy for the McCanns since recent the accusations on her Monday breakfast-time slot.
Dozens of listeners contacted the show to say they did not believe it was a suitable subject for discussion whilst the legal procedures were still ongoing.
The reaction was so strong that producers changed the subject of the phone-in to whether or not the McCann case should be discussed at all.
Listeners voted overwhelmingly by 68 per cent to 32 per cent that it was not a topic for debate.
