News reports on attacks/murders often gives too much information

[firemaiden]

I see from the latest internet headlines that that poor Polish girl found in Glasgow is now being described as having been killed "in a really horrific attack...a very very violent attack". Now why do we need that extra detail? How must it make her family or friends here (I think there is a boyfriend?) to have that extra detail, about how unpleasant her death was, told to all the world.

I find this really intrusive reporting but I don't know whether it is the fault of the journalists or the police for releasing too much information. It seems to happen all the time telling us whether murdered girls, in particular, have been sexually assaulted. Now that I am a mother I find these sort of details are really unnecessary. They are unpleasantly voyaristic for the reader and presumably terribly upsetting for the families - you've just lost a loved one and now everyone knows they were sexually assualted before death too. Am I the only one to feel this is really a distasteful practice ?

[cowmad]

horrible descriptions-pictures
I dont watch much telly any more (other than chosen bits)and buy The Gaurdian ,not too,if any horrid stuff in there. <br /> I spose it sells papers and if the sales go up that day, it supports their excuse for printing stuff.
Would hate to live in a society that "nannies" us tho....just prefer to use the off button.Its the suprise/unexpected stuff tho....

[firemaiden]

I know, I don't want nannying or "not before the children" type reporting but some of this stuff is absolutely unnecessary to report.

[sansouci]

Generally, if a rapist's on the loose near you, you'd want to know, wouldn't you? But yes, I agree that too much info is ghoulish.

[Kidstrack]

i feel the same firemaiden and have always felt this way, but on the other hand what the newspapers don't know they make up so sometimes i think the police release statements so that everyone gets the truth

[lemonaid]

Also, they want to encourage friends and family of the wanted person to turn them in making it clear that something was a horrific attack / included sexual assault brings more pressure to bear on them, if they have any suspicions. In this particular case, where they pretty much know who did it, they need to have the public on side keeping an eye out for the guy and the more they talk up what he's done, the more it focuses the collective public mind on finding him. At least in theory.

[foxinsocks]

I also think it is a bit like driving past accidents on the highway. Most people slow down and have a good look. Although some people (like yourselves) say they don't like all the detail, newspaper sales go up when they publish full details of gruesome trials (like the Holly and Jessica stuff). People get fascinated with the horror of it all and lap it all up.

[sansouci]

I wonder why, though.

[cowmad]

"lap it all up"?
isnt it horrible ?
what are we?

[moondog]

I am repulsed by ever more frequent photos of dead children (usually Iraqi or Lebanese)
I really don't think they would show them if they were British or American.

[cowmad]

no they dont moondog cos they have the nannie
thats why they send their boys an girls to war

[josephjaidensmum]

where i used to live in east london they hardly ever reported on the news what was going on in the area even though there was police signs everywhere i doubt the general public knows what goes on, in the last 2 weeks to fathers have been killed in e london for defending them selves and protecting their children but there are lots more that go unreported in the news everyday
in news now days there is never any good news,
i also find it v sad too watch but we do need to show this infomation so the public can see what is happening in the world around them

as to the iraq war the photos that have been shown are v v sad as all these children are suffering and it is not their fault,
but all this is seen by people who can then make a stand and protest against what is happening in third world contrys etc.

[cowmad]

agree,,,, but its not shown to enlighten us
but to sell newspapers
they dont report stories
just descriptions and photos
cos the average age of reading they report and dircet thier narrative to is to is
9 years old...
yes thats how little they regard us as people...real people
the newspapers ...they speak to us SLOWLY
and when that dosnt work
they give us pictures...
like CHAT AN HELLO
cos they cant trust us to make our own minds up
(or would prefer to steer us)
getitt??

[arsenelupin]

Talking of small children, what about the reporting of the Amish school shooting, with all that detail about what those poor little girls went through? I think it's cynical to put in these details when the reporters claim to be horrified. Violent death is horrifying in itself, we don't need details.