Should the media and in particular the Tabloid press......?

Question

Be held to task over incorrect reporting concerning the Maddie enquiry?

They have repeatedly reported as 'fact' rumours and speculation surrounding this case in a bid to sell newspapers. what do you think?

Answer 1

The thing is, they have always done this... whipping up public hysteria so that the unfortunate person at the centre of the wider storm is marginalised.

Answer 2

The tabloid press are always reporting incorrectly. If they have no news they make it up. Have you ever noticed that when one of the papers has incorrectly reported something say on the front page the apology or retraction appears somewhere in the middle of the paper tucked away in one of the columns. Papers love to sensationalise because they know this is what sells whether it be true or not. Action is very rarely taken against these papers and therefore they will continue to print what they like and unfortunately a great many people will believe what they read.

Answer 3

The media never let the truth get in way of a good story.
The headlines are usually misleading like today, "Girl in veil joins police force", she was not wearing a veil just a hijab or scarf.
Never trust what you read, never read only one newspaper they are all politically motivated, So is the television, the BBC for example will always try to trash the conservatives.
Reporters do not bend the truth they call it creative writing.

Answer 4

Tabloid news and most media in the Western world is just trash and should not be considered to be journalism at all. Its just sensational talk, rumors, slanders, etc., to rile up the ignorant and get them excited enough to buy or subscribe to these crappy journals. Its about selling advertising and to make money in the media you have to be able to state your readership and subscribers to set your advertising rates up. Today, you do that by rattling the cages of the stupid so they will bark and sound like many.

Answer 5

I don't think they should be held to task no.

The Portuguese Police should be though. How the F did they miss blood spots , allow the room to be cleaned, re-used and didn't bring in sniffer dogs till 12 weeks later???

The PP are responsible for all the rumours turning into "facts". They give no clues away, because they have none.

Answer 6

Much of the tabloid Press's attitude is 'why spoil a good story with the facts?'

Answer 7

Who's media?
The British media have only printed what the family have wanted (unusually).
The Portuguese press have printed leaks from their police, and considering the sycophantic behaviour of our own media, I'm glad they have done so. Otherwise we would know zilch about any developments.
So far none of the leaks have proved to be untrue, always being confirmed at a later date. As for pointing the finger, i cant blame them, taking into account the evidence and the actions/reactions its all quite suspicious, whatever some may wish to believe.
Freedom of speech is vitally important. If lies have been told no doubt the family will sue and win substantial damages, something im sure the Mccann's will be doing.

Answer 8

Tabloid editors are renowned for their 'publish first, fact-check later' ethic.

I'm still getting over the horrible mess they made of Diana AND Michael Hutchence.

Answer 9

hehe, if they were 'held to task' over all their 'incorrect reporting' they might as well shut down completely ;-D it's their job to cause havoc and your choice not to buy into it (or indeed stop buying red top so-called press altogether)

Answer 10

You then hit a free speech. I hear what you say and see where you are coming from but the answere must be no. Who has it actually harmed? No-one