As much as feel for the poor girl, have Sky news got no other news? I got in from work and the first thing i always do is put the news on to see whats been happening and Sky is always my first choice. For a full hour they had nothing but this story running. I've had to go to the Beeb for a full round up the days news.
Sky have gone OTT on this story.
I hope she's found, really i do but enough is enough. A 10 minute bulletin on the TOTH would suffice.
My advice is to stick with a BBC News 24. They are better in their coverage of this story and with other stories. IMO the gap between Sky News and BBC News 24 is widening - with the BBC being miles ahead!!
As for Madie - well I am keeping my fingers crossed. I cannot begin to imagine how her family are coping. It is extremely sad!!
If only Ofcom had more balls they'd stamp this nonsense out.
The last thing we need is for a government body to start telling news channels how they can cover stories. If you don't like it, watch something else.
When a UK broadcaster starts behaving like a tabloid newspaper, and begins fudging the line between straight forward reporting and getting involved with the story itself, then they should be challenged IMHO.
As for the expense, the story is easy to cover, they've just parked up in one spot, and repeat and speculate on the rather thin facts ad infinitum. A lot cheaper, and much easier than say covering a conflict, or natural disaster.
I do think Sky have gone way overboard on this. But I suspect one of the reasons they have jumped onto this story so heavily is because they'll be getting the viewers, after that disaster of a re-launch and the slipping figures they'll be sure to get a lot of people tuning into this human interest story, more than usual and possibly potentially new viewers they can hook in.
It's a bit worrying that commercial pressures could be beginning to influence Sky News though, especially when it results in the kind of tabloid Non-Stop-Coverage branding which made me cringe when I heard it.
They only need one main presenter there, plus the usual journos to cover the story. There is not really anything new offical coming from authorities.
I understand that they are trying to keep the public aware, but the girl went missing in Portugal, not here - so having blankett coverage here is not going to make much difference is it?
This is turning into Fox News, and their obsession with the missing teenager in Aruba, Natalie Holloway (i think that was her name, and she was 18 or 19)
But surely there comes a point where OTT coverage (which I believe the beeb have also been guilty of) will actually work against things? Ramming hours of regurgitated speculation and pornographic reporting down the camera only satisfies the viewer equivalent of rubberneckers.
For the average person, the endless coverage of what is essentially now a non-story since there is no fresh information, it's more a case of turning on the telly and going "Oh, FFS. They're not still going on about that bloody thing?!" I would think that only the most heartless of people wouldn't have any sympathy towards the girl's family, but at the same time, constant media scrutiny where there really is nothing more to be said wears thin.
Sky News has crossed the line with this story on a Moral point and a Commercial one.
It has dumbed itself down by publising the fact that it's picture is being used as a poster.
The story is preventing them from covering more Home news. It is ignoring the priorities of viewers outside the UK. Isn't the channel looking for International interests?
Seeing Emma Hurd out there doing a story shows that Mr. Ryley is taking this one very seriously.
I pray for the safe return of this little girl to her family, my niece is the same age and sounds just as loveable, but there is more news in the world to be investing loads of money in!
Drive a few uPods down - fly a few presenters down with Ryanair - put them up in cheap hotels - you're paying them lots - OK
Sky News going mad at the moment with the police activity in Priaia da Luz - no arrests yet but this British guy Robert Murat has apparently been taken away for questioning.
The level of speculation now is just ridiculous. Ian Woods suggested that Mr Murat looked a bit suspicious because, amongst other things, he has a glass eye! Plus they interviewed their own translator who, coincidentally, went to school with Mr Murat, and she described what he was like at school etc etc
This reminds me of the Ipswich murders last year - as soon as the name of a suspect is mentioned, the media just jump on it. Now fair enough, judging by the portrayal by the media tonight, this Mr Murat guy does sound a little dodgy, but - if he turns out to be perfectly innocent - his reputation will be tarnished.
(By the way, the BBC aren't far behind Sky with the OTT coverage tonight, I'm only posting in the Sky News thread because the Madeleine case has been discussed here in reasonable depth recently).
I thought people were not to be named, especially if they have not been charged. The guy could be totally innocent, i cant judge at this stage, but for your name to be plastered when you havent been charged with anything is a bit crazy.
Now fair enough, judging by what the media are saying tonight, this Mr Murat guy does sound a little dodgy, but - if he turns out to be perfectly innocent - his reputation will be tarnished.
Even though you made a valid point about his reputation, I'd be careful saying this sort of thing.. as you say earlier in your post he hasn't been charged or even arrested yet! Although i agree entirely with your observations about the ridiculous level of speculation tonight.
I thought people were not to be named, especially if they have not been charged. The guy could be totally innocent, i cant judge at this stage, but for your name to be plastered when you havent been charged with anything is a bit crazy.
I don't know what the Portuguese law says, but even in this country, if someone was taken for questioning by the police (don't forget, he hasn't been arrested) then the media would be allowed to name the person, until they hear otherwise, wouldn't they?
What should Sky (and other broadcasters) do though? The problem isn't the fact that this guy has been named, the problem is that some people will assume guilt straight away. If they withhold his name because of these people aren't they dumbing down?
I wouldn't like my name being splashed all over the media on suspicion of anything, but I wouldn't be worried about Sky News, I would be worried about people like the poster further up this thread thinking I "sound a little dodgy".
I wouldn't like my name being splashed all over the media on suspicion of anything, but I wouldn't be worried about Sky News, I would be worried about people like the poster further up this thread thinking I "sound a little dodgy".
