No mention of Madeleine McCann on the early evening news. Do you think think its right to scale down coverage?

[lyrabelacqua]

Today is the first day I can remember recently with no news at all on the Madeleine McCann investigation. I've also heard that news organisations are looking at scaling back the level of coverage but no-one wants to be first because they might be perceived as heartless. what do you think?

Wannabe LOL, no hun, I dont - I do have a wide circle of friends, from poverished to Millionaires, but not the circle or heavy weighters that the McCanns would more than likely mix with.

You may have misunderstood what I was getting at. I would WANT to do exactly the same as the McCanns, but somehow just dont think it would happen. Would my damndest though and try. Look at the mother of Ben Needham, she gave her ALL with very little backing or coverage and it left her pennyless; the McCanns are fortunate to have the social standing they do, but seriously, this is not a time to be judgemental in that department; they have lost their precious child and are using that priveledge to get her back.

hope that clarifies my view - a bit xx

wg but that's exactly my point. Of course the mccanns are doing everything they can, i would do the same as a parent. It's not the mccanns that I am criticising here - it's the fact that we clearly live in a society where money talks, and if you have the money to pay for the right kind of publicity, then that publicity, and more money, will flood in your direction. If you don't have that kind of money, then you have to struggle for that publicity on your own. Ben Needham's parents returned to the UK because they had no money. They were given no support. When they left Kos (sp?) they had to do so by ferry because there was not enough money left for an air ticket. No we didn't have email and the internet back then, but we had world news? It wasn't back in the dark ages before the invention of television, the Needhams could have had just as much publicity as the mccanns but they didn't. Why is that?

I think that a world Madeleine day is utterly tasteless tbh. We have comic relief to raise the awareness of people all over the world, we have children in need to raise the awareness of the plight of children in the UK, we have live 8 to raise the awareness of third world countries and debt and poverty. All these events raise the awareness of millions and millions of suffering people, so a world event to raise the awareness of the plight of one child? One child who might not even be alive any more? maybe not wrong for the Mccanns to want it, but definitely wrong for celebs to agree to it. it's all a part of people wanting to jump on the bandwagon, wanting to become part of the "madeleine experience" as I heard it being referred to the other day. A concert to raise awareness of all missing children worldwide maybe, but a concert to raise awareness of one missing child who nobody even knows whether she's still alive... definitely not.

And I too found it very odd that they be planning this so far in advance.

Wannabe, agree both para's - sorry cant chat at mo, kids running riot this end xx

UCM, totally agree with you. I think that all the publicity makes a stand about all children.
I think that all the planning ahead is probably the only way they can stay sane.
I think the 'Madeleine expereince' sounds sick!

I agree with Wannabe, their contacts and money have made a definate difference.

Poor Ben Needhams parents got nowhere near as much support and searched until they ran out of their own money and had to return home by ferry.

Whilst my heart goes out to the little girl, I don't agree with a world day or the fund that has been set up. If they wish to travel around the world and stay abroad indefinately then they should fund it themselves.

There are far more deserving causes that need funding and publicity that could help thousands of people not just one family.

Isnt J.K.Rowling supposed to be putting bookmarks with madeleine picture/information on them in all the new potter books?? that will keep up the profile a bit, millions of people read the books, and people will be talking about it at the book launch etc

But angeliz this is exactly what it has become to some. People holding vidules/wearing yellow ribbons/there was even an article about a man who had travelled to Portugal with a 20 ft inflatable Madeleine banner to take to every beach in the algarv. Much as it would be nice to think that most people do these sorts of things because they really want to help, I think that most people do these public displays of ?solidarity? because they want to be seen to be doing something iyswim. People get so swept up in their part in all this, that they seem to lose sight of what it?s really about, the disappearance of one child. That?s why it?s been referred to by some as the ?Madeleine experience?.

And I absolutely think that a fund is wrong. I think the kinds of people that will be donating to a fund are the people who can?t really afford to. The people who feel they want to do something but don?t know what so they give money they don?t really have, when the mccanns certainly aren?t really short of cash themselves. I think it?s wrong especially considering a family member of the mccanns suggested that ?giving money is a good outlet for peoples? emotions? wtf. I think it?s one thing giving a little bit of money to comic relief or children in need or another charity that benefits people who have nothing, but the people giving to this probably don?t earn in a year what the mccanns earn in a month. It?s taking advantage and it?s wrong.

I do see what you mean it just sounds so awful because it seems to be taking her name in vain. I feel so sorry for the little girl that there apears to be so much animosity around her dissapearance.
I'm not daft and i know none of it is aimed at her but i just feel so sad that she's probably going through hell and people are discussing the rights and wrongs of her parents efforts to find her.

I actaully remember alot of publicity about Ben Needlam (sp) because we were living in Greece at the time. There was a really old couple with a small blonde child (they were Greek) and i remember them being under alot of people's suspicions although it turned out they were totally innocnet.

I see there's some new 'mystery' DNA been found in the apartment. It doesn't match the McCanns or Murat so I guess they will now have to check every holidaymaker who stayed there for how long?

Unless Mark Warner cleaners are so good they get every trace of DNA out of an apartment between bookings!

the McCanns are

continuing their journey through europe
this week.

"Mr McCann said: "If we thought it would secure her safe return, we would sell our house, we would do anything to get our daughter back."
So they're not prepared to sell their house to look for Madeleine, only to sell it if they could be sure it would "secure her safe return?

So they're keeping all their own money and asking for the public's instead? tbh I think that's why people are critical... If that was my child I would sell everything I had first before asking the public for hand-outs.

interesting, wannabe. If it were me (but for the grace of God ...), I would sell my house, take public handouts, trot the globe, endure any amount of public criticism, suffer oublic scrutiny, offer myself in exchange, if it would get my child back.

I don't think anyone should criticise the McCanns for accepting the help that's offered to them - there must be people queueing up to offer their services.
And we can't assume they have stacks of spare money just because they have good jobs.
I don't think they should sell their house just yet, not till they really have to. If Madeleine is found after a horrific ordeal she's going to want the comfort of her home isn't she?
and I don't think they're going round with a begging cap asking the world's poor to fund their search. people who really do have stacks of spare money have donated it willingly.