to think poor shannon deserves more coverage???

[NotSureWatToThink]

Raw subject i know, and im thinking maybe this thread has already been done? but i cant help feeling that missing Shannon just isnt getting enough coverage in the papers/news etc..

Today i was in the middle of a huge discussion about this and there were mixed opinions but the bottom line was that because they are from a low class estate and the mother has 7 kids that somehow its their fault!!

This is just my opinion im not saying i am right, would just like to know how others see it??

when the madeline mccann case was at its media height a few police experts actually said that so much media could be to the detrament of the missing child. they seemed to believe that if the child had been taken and was still alive, the people that had taken her were more likely to kill her in the light of so much media attention.
This case does seem different to some of the others previously mentioned, there are certain newspapers that would normally have had a field day over the childs home life, mum ect and they do seem to have been quite restrained, it does make me think the police may have requested less media involvement.

As as journalist, I have to say that you can't really make comparisons with the Madeline McCann case.

1. Madeleine was only 3 when she went missing.
2. She was snatched on holiday while alone in the room. An unusual set of circumstances. More unusual than a girl going missing on her way home from school. The more unusual the circumstances, the better the story from a reader's point of view.
3. There was all the hoo-haa of whether the parents should have left her alone. That also kept the story going and kept people talking about it.

I'm not saying it's right, but Madeleine McCann had more coverage for these reasons. I don't think it's anything to do with class. Sarah Payne was from a working class background and she was a huge story at the time.

but while Shannon might not be pretty she's not an ugly little girl is she? I don't think the first photo did much for her but in later ones she looks better

its a bit like when a prostitute gets murdered, oh well she was a prostitute, noone bats an eyelid or gives a shit, but that is someones daughter and it is a human being ffs.

totally agree its to do with class, personally don't think its to go with looks, just plain old, who gives a shit about folk like them !

op you are not being unreasonable at all
i whole heartliy agree.

I don't think Shannon's mum or step dad actually work - can we still call them working class?

Anyway, that aside, I agree that there is probably more to this story than we are led to beleive and I feel the answer lies within the family/close friends.

Any child who is missing regardless of ther background is just as important as the next. My heart goes out to little Shannon, ovbiously from a dysfunctional family and now this.

I hope to God she is found safe and well.

completely agree milkgodess, i notice than when prostitutes are murdered they are described only as prostitutes!! like that is what they are.... no its just their (unfortionate) job!

Tenacious - Shannon's mother has had a number of relationships and Shannon has 6 siblings, at least some of whom have a different father to Shannon. Shannon's brother has run away in the past. Doesn't matter what 'class' they belong to - you would always struggle to describe this family as having a conventional set up.

"Obviously dysfunctional", because various of the mother's children have various fathers and live in various different houses. Shannon's own (and only) full brother lives with their dad - she hadn't seen her dad for a couple of years (or her brother either, probably)

Do you think that's a judgmental, TG?

yes dysfunctional for those reasons stated below. Not being judgemental simply stating a fact.

I agree she is not getting enough coverage and also suspect it is because of her background.

She's not getting half the coverage the poor lass deserves. I think she's probably getting the resources- didnt they say halof the sniffer dogs in the country were there looking- but poor little mite needs to be found and now.

No idea if it is within the family, I think if it were that easy to guess police may have done so by now?

Just keep thinking of that last sighting of her crying on a wall- God help the poor mite

Many years ago a young black girl went missing and was later found murdered. Her story did not even warrant page 5 of the newspapers. At the same time, a blond blue eyed girl had gone missing and it was wall to wall news coverage.

I'm afraid, Shannon's background means that she is not deemed to be as newsworthy as a nice middle class and dare I say it, white child from a stable background.

I think there is less coverage because of M Mc - as if the media feel that missing children have been 'done' if you see what I mean. But I am a media cynic.

This would make me v. angry if I thought that increased media coverage would actually help - but I don't. Can't think of a single highly-publicised child disappearance where it did, anyway.

Really, really hope they find her soon

Nothing yet.

Implant in your child, anyone? I heard about this ages ago and a girl of about 13 was going to have it done. Don't know if she did though.

Jesus, you people are treating this like a sodding competition. Oooh, this missing child isn't getting as much publicity as another missing child. It's not fair. Let's start a a petition demanding more completely unfounded front-page speculation based on no evidence whatsoever. Why? Well, who knows why you want it? Do you just enjoy reading endless unfounded front-page speculation? Because that's what you got with the McCanns.

(And that, incidentally, is why they are suing Express Group newspapers and that is why you haven't seen any 'Gerry hid body in suitcase' stories for the last two weeks, and why if you go on the Express websites and search for McCann stories, you won't find any. Because they have been removed. Because they are all bollocks. Is that really what you want for Shannon? Exactly what do you want? Demand more coverage of this case and that's what you'll get.)

They are getting the right amount of attention and coverage. I read that about 250 police are involved and there are posters up in her town. It's often on the news. The Madeleince McCann coverage was an aberration and probably no help at all in finding her.

I agree Shannon should be getting more coverage. I dont know how much of it is our expectation because the McCann case had such unprecidated coverage that I dont recall what is the 'norm' for these situaions. However, I have thought the tone of some reporting is entirely inappropraite. I heard a reporter the other day telling all that Shannons mum has 7 kids by 6 different fathers. It was sai in the guise that 'Shannon may have run away because this family have their difficulties". I see it as irrelevant to how or why Shannon is missing and a poorly veiled snobbery.

For what purpose though? Did it help when Madeleine McCann went missing?

i read somewhere that the search for Shannon is the biggest since the search for the Yorkshire ripper and that 300+ police officers are involved..

The madeleine coverage was completely OTT. I guess the issue is finding some middle ground, not so much publicity that people have overload, but not so little that people forget. it's a hard balance to strike, and if there is already an idea of what has happened, it's hard not to publicize too much without prejudicing a potential trial.

Reports on Sky News that Shannon has been found alive!! I so hope they're correct.