The Abuse of the McCann's - Part 2

Indeed tabloid journalists and the PCC should hang their heads in shame. This kind of misreporting however will continue until the press are made more accountable for wrong actions. It must be understood that newspapers are arms of powerful media conglomerates; hugely influential corporate organisations that it clearly seems have lost all sense of responsibility and the PCC, the press’s self regulating body, clearly does nothing to remind them of their responsibilities. The PCC in the main looks after the interests of the magazine and publishing industry and is not protecting the rights of individuals.

These Corporations only wish to increase profit but at what expense to real journalism and our democracy. They are polluting the news we read. We cannot afford for our newspapers to continue on this downward spiral feeding the population sensationalised lies and rumour simply because it sells. We must encourage greater honesty and integrity in journalism as our newspapers have a wider responsibility to inform this population effectively.

Self-regulation is clearly not working. This is a fact pure and simple. If self-regulation were working this newspaper would not have felt confident to abuse its power. Currently, newspapers have nothing to fear from overstepping the mark as the PCC (The Press Complaints Commission) do not enforce ‘The Editors Code’ which newspaper’s are supposed to abide by.

The fact that this code is not enforced has been made painfully evident by the treatment of the McCann’s. It is a ridiculous situation where these massive corporate conglomerates are not held accountable for wrong actions. Nobody is keeping them in line so they are free to continue spreading their lies and vicious rumour for profit.

This case should also encourage the PCC and its paymasters – the newspaper and magazine publishing industry – to rethink their objections to fines and compensation for trouble caused when the Editors’ Code is breached. They argue that financial penalties would bring in the lawyers and reduce the likelihood of swift resolution. Their real concern is to avoid spending any money at all - Express Newspapers and the Star cut their losses to avoid even larger bills from Messrs Sue Grabbit and Runne. Perhaps this case will convince them that prominent corrections and apologies and a graduated scale of compensation payments would be a more effective reminder of their responsibilities to the public. If the PCC offered such a deal as an alternative to litigation it would truly level the playing field for those who cannot afford to take on the publishers.

Many newspapers have a false credibility these days created in part by the limited amount of prominent apologies and corrections printed in our newspapers. This is because the PCC has no power to enforce the Editor’s code, which all newspapers are supposed to abide by. This lack of accountability is allowing sloppy lazy malicious journalism to continue on its downward spiral.

Libel trials are hugely expensive and legal aid is not available to fight your case. Everyday lies are printed without redress, the tabloids know they can get away with it and know there is a market for gossip so they simply peddle these page-filling lies in place of real journalism. Tabloid newspapers these days think only of their bottom line like any other corporate industry and have lost all sense of their civic responsibility. If a story captures the public’s attention and sells papers they continually run with it actively seeking out the next sensationalist headline which if not available they simply fabricate and fill out with much opinion-based hot air.

Over 100 articles contained false allegations by Express newspapers. Many of them front page accusing them directly of killing their child when there was no evidence suggesting this was the case. Whatever happened to innocent till proven guilty in this country. Why do we allow these newspapers to deal in injustice?

It is disgusting and highlights once again the frighteningly low levels the British press are prepared to stoop to everyday in exploiting an individual’s trauma for commercial profit.

Mr Horrocks, the Head of BBC news made these comments recently concerning the tabloid media:

"The situation that many facts are not reliably established has not stopped many of our press and broadcast colleagues from treating rumour as being newsworthy,"

The BBC absolutely needs to distinguish between fact and rumour. But the enormous febrile and emotional atmosphere, enflamed by a media for whom this story is a potential commercial opportunity, have made that hard.

"I can't help reflecting that all this mass of hysterical rumour stands in very stark contrast to the one incontestable sad fact - a little girl has disappeared in unexplained circumstances."

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