A thread to discuss DEVELOPMENTS regarding Maddie McCann

[jampot]

We can discuss parenting styles in a few weeks

Don't really understand the level of animosity raised on this topic. Perhaps because this kind of thing is every dp's worst nightmare and that's why emotions are so strong.

yes come on mn... talk nice... we might get another quote...

Exactly. We must show empathy.. keep judgements to ourselves......

There at least seems to be a quorum of people on this thread with their heads screwed on the right way....

Any news? We have no telly so haven't seen anything for a while...

Nothing new unfortunately !

Latest is still: suspect in mind. believe she's still alive and possibly still in algarve. not wanting to release any more details for fear of endangering her life.

According to sky, guardian, reuters, bbc...I have all these news feeds running on my pc all the time.

Oh

I agree with Twig to an extent - and the news coverage is beyond pardody - yet again - you can almost feel the editors wringing their hands with glee at the whole vicarious drama of it all.

The endless guessing is just that sadly and doesn't help anyone. The media have hijacked yet another personal tragedy and substetuted every bit of concern and empathy for sensationalism. I really wish they'd fuck off and leave them alone

I was in the Algarve 3 weeks ago with my son.....this news is very scary.....I really hope they find her safe. Fingers crossed! crossed and crossed again!

i must admit i read the telegraph which was very emotive.. and then the guardian.. which isn't, have yet to look at the sun!

I have been travelling all day, and know nothing, so am trying to catch up on developments without hearing too much speculation or too much detail (I have a 3yo DD and it upsets me too much). How can anyone judge somebody who has is having to endure something so awful? What right have they to pass judgement? These poor parents are suffering enough - I hope it ends well (and soon). My heart goes out to the family.

I agree that the media spotlight can look like a horrible intrusion however it is an important part of the management of the situation too.
In these circumstances the police will work closely with the media to

a) ensure as many people as possible (especially in the locality) become familiar with her picture
b) to continue to encourage people to come forward with 'leads' (any one of which might help lead to her (hopefully safe ) return
c) to communicate with the abductors themselves, who will no doubt be keeping a close watch on what appears to be going on. Did you see the police statement where they asked the abductors to leave her somewhere safe and then tell them where (i.e. giving them a option to get out of the situation they are now in)?

There will doubtless be lots more going on behind the scenes, much more than will ever make it into the headlines. In situations like this it's even possible/likely for the police to be feeding in 'bogus'/ speculative information if they think it might provoke a positive reaction.

So sadly the media coverage is a necessary part of the investigative effort.

Hmm. MN is part of the media. All these posts - they are part of the media response. The media coverage will be enormous because we're all interested. We can't pretend we're not the people it's designed to please or that we're contributing to it.

..or that we're not contributing to it.

so agree nkf.

I agree that the media coverage is intrusive but not that discussing it on MN is.

Not sure what your point is, NKF?

Mine was to highlight that although it might appear to be a kinder thing to protect the family/ this case by a media 'blackout' or something, that this actually wouldn't necessarily be in their interest.

Like it or not, there is no disputing that the media is a powerful vehicle, and the police have trained media management teams to use reporting to help them.

Newsrooms tend not to wring their hands with glee over missing or injured or dead children, actually. As it happens. Journalists are human beings too, and many of us are parents, you know.

i think her point is that we are all complicit in the coverage, that we all feed the machine. and in the case of MN specifically, we are a part of the machine. please note the fact that the guardian quoted MN coverage today.

i know, edam, it's irritating when 'drop the dead donkey' is people's first point of reference for a tv newsroom, isn't it?

But Aitch - to say we are 'complicit' implies that the media coverage is wrong. I am arguing that it is a 'necessary evil' (if you like) to keep the awareness high (= public vigilance) and perhaps communicate in a roundabout way with any abductor.

That said, of course there is always good and bad media coverage e.g. factual reporting (BBC) versus sensationalism (tabloids/ cable channels etc).

I haven't been drawn into the judgemental MN threads about parenting etc - I agree that those are unhelpful in any scenario.