To be shocked at Sky News' coverage of the excavations in Praia Da Luiz?

[ziggiestardust]

I didn't see a lot of the initial coverage, as I was working abroad in 2007. But the Police are potentially excavating a little girl's body, regardless of the circumstances, and they've got live cameras at the scene, waiting. It's macabre, and it seems like regardless of the fact MM was a tiny little defenceless girl, she's fair game for the media.

I just think it's shitty. Do a quick piece on it, but is there any need for the close ups of the excavation site and a blow by blow account of what's happening?

Her poor family

Maybe I am just older Out, and have seen a couple more decades of this kind of coverage, so I dispute the conclusion you draw.

Which is not to say that I don't see that the choice of news coverage tells us a good deal about a) the society the 'news' originates from and b) the importance it commands in our own culture.

but I think your conclusion is simplistic and unhelpful.

Okay, sorry, I think I'm in danger of derailing.

Actually, I agree with you Madame about the principles.of the press and.It's relationship to democracy. I just don't think that it's true that it is for those reasons that this thing is being reported in this way.

You said up thread that we must endlessly negotiate this line between press.intrusion and transparency. So here we are, doing just that. I think we have got it wrong, in this case, that coverage is on the side of commerce and not on the side of the public good.

I have 2 observations to make about the excavations

1/ they are digging. In May 2007 how would any individual be able to dig that dry scrubland themselves to conceal a body? Unobserved

2/ if a body IS recovered, I'm guessing the Mcanns ( due to close proximity) be the first suspects and it will all start up again.

Awful for the whole family. That picture if Kate upthread is haunting

Fair point Out!

Normally don't the police investigate, pursue their leads and then close the case unless more info comes to light.

Which is exactly what they are doing here, pursuing their leads. Or do you think they're just randomly searching areas on the off chance that they'll find something?

joules I believe the weather had not been brilliant, so it may not have been all that dry; I recall the recent Crimewatch special saying something about it, although I may stand corrected.

Also, finding a body in no way makes the McCanns suspects.

And if they're persuing leads; they obviously think there's a good chance they will find something.

I think the mcann haters will see it as a possibility the parents were involved is what I meant. Not my personal view but it's close enough for speculation in that vein

Ziggie - what makes you think the McCanns would in no way become suspects should a body be found? Surely you along with the rest of the world have no idea what the body would reveal if it was found....

The police are obviously looking for evidence to help them, if and once any evidence is found I am sure the police will determine who is an appropriate suspect.

Well it doesn't; the discovery of a body doesn't automatically point to the parents, does it? That's just speculative.

I liken mccann hater to be like the 'burn her, burn her' types, that would have insisted the local woman was a witch in medieval times. Wrong, but convinced.

No it doesn't automatically point to the parents and I wouldn't speculate. But you said the parents would no way become suspects, they might if evidence reveals something that indicates their involvement so I wondered how you could be so sure.

weakandvocal I liken mccann hater to be like the 'burn her, burn her' types, that would have insisted the local woman was a witch in medieval times. Wrong, but convinced

So do I. And quadruple that suspicion of any woman who has a reasonably decent career. Kate McCann is a doctor. People who occupy themselves by sitting behind computer keyboards hate clever women.

I agree the 24 hour news footage is extremely distasteful.

Okay, sorry amanda for offending you

What do you mean you wouldn't speculate Amandaclarke.

Half of page 3 is about you speculating.

here is a written form of the coverage for anyone who hasn't seen the Sky report on the TV, although it is quite condensed and doesn't show the close ups of the Garda van and stuff.

Ziggie - no offence taken

It's just with a case like this I prefer to go on facts and evidence rather than speculation. I have followed the case with interest and had read an awful lot of the available documented police evidence. I would keep my opinions open on any new evidence until it is in the public domain. At present no-one knows whether there will be any evidence found or, if there is something, who it will lead police to.

Bowlers - that's not speculation, I listed facts and evidence that is available for all to see .

I also don't like speculation that if a body is found; that immediately implicates the McCann's, because it just doesn't. I feel like the media have made thinly veiled attacks towards them this whole time. Honestly, if for whatever reason, they did become suspects and go on trial now; Jesus only knows how they would select a jury. How on earth would they (or anyone, actually) have a fair trial after all that?

And that leads me back onto my point; by all means, report it. But by lacking sensitivity, it leads people to conclusions.

Sorry if this has already been answered but - are they digging there because they have reason to believe they'll find something?

Amanda, you cherry picked info to support your speculation.

But hey, this is a thread about media coverage. Try respecting that.

"They are expected to be in the area for days and to use ground penetrating radar equipment to look for anomalies in the terrain which may merit further investigation by digging."

outself can you explain what you mean by 'straw man'? Truly. I don't understand and would appreciate a definition because then I can accept it or refute it, or somewhere in-between, which would promote further debate between us.

But you seem to have used it as an alternative to saying 'end of', which most people on MN regard as unacceptable.

It might be 'straw man' or 'end of', and if it is, I'll accept it, but would you mind expanding please?

Can anyone tell me why they have chosen this particular area? Has new information come to light?

Madame, sorry I am trying to respect the thread. Those who are accusing people of being "haters" should also have some respect.

Accusing people of being haters, jealous, thick and witch burners is not particularly respectful is it?

No-one knows what happened on that fateful day and no one will know until the case is solved, if it does indeed ever get solved. With this in mind isn't better to just look at the facts available to date and wait and see what transpires with any new evidence.