Madleine MCcann: The ITV Film, Tabloid Crime And Scarlett Keeling
MADDYWATCH – Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann and Shannon Matthews
THE SUN: “McCanns could be in ITV film”
KATE and Gerry McCann are in talks to appear in an ITV documentary on missing kids. But the film will not be based on Madeleine’s case. Instead it would focus on how other countries treat lost children.
Are the McCanns doomed to be the media faces of missing children? Will they be invited to off their views on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Unsolved Crimes?
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Madeleine McCann’s parents discuss TV offer”
Representatives of Kate and Gerry McCann have met with the broadcaster about a documentary that would be shot over a long period of time, their spokesman confirmed. It is thought that, while the documentary would feature four-year-old Madeleine’s disappearance from Portuguese resort Praia da Luz last year, it would focus on the wider subject of how countries respond to children going missing.
Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns spokesman, says: “We have talked with one or two companies and have a number of proposals and we are moving forward with those proposals. It is more than likely it would be with ITV at this stage, but I am not at liberty to go into details.”
Is this Brand McCann at work?
Says Clarence Mitchell: “They don’t want to do anything about ‘woe is us a year on’. That is what the tabloids would like us to do, but we are not following their agenda, we are following our own agenda.”
Indeed. No film. It will be tasteful and not at all mawkish. It will not be all about viewing figures and advertisers. It will be an ITV film…
The McCanns are arguidos in the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine McCann. They claim they are innocent. They have not been charged with any crime. Their daughter is missing. DAILY MAIL: “McCanns to appear in new ‘missing children’ documentary for ITV”
Says Clarence Mitchell: “We are looking at a long form documentary surrounding some of the wider issues Kate and Gerry want to highlight like the creation of an Amber alert system in Europe. There is nothing like it in Europe. Each country has its own systems but they don’t talk to each other. Kate and Gerry are keen to discuss that part of improvement with [non government organisations] and we may well do a documentary looking at that aspect.”
Are the McCanns now the celebrity face of missing children?
THE GUARDIAN: “McCanns mull ITV documentary offer”
The documentary would examine initiatives such as Project Amber in the US, which sees alerts posted on electronic roadside billboards as soon as a child is reported missing.
MCCANNS v EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS:
Last week, it was confirmed the McCanns had made formal complaints to Express Newspapers over a series of what Mitchell claimed were “wildly and grossly defamatory” articles in the group’s titles’ coverage of Madeleine and were considering taking legal action. They have instructed London law firm Carter Ruck, which specialises in high profile libel cases, to push for a settlement.
The McCanns And The Media: a debate
DAILY MIRROR: “’I was naive ..I was too trusting but I was NOT’ – GOA GIRL’SMUM DEFENDS LEAVING HER”
Scarlett Keeling is 15. Her mother has left her in Goa. Scarlett Keeling is murdered. How is this crime linked with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann? Can you guess?
Fiona MacKeown, who has been fiercely criticised in India for leaving the 15-year-old in Goa with her tour guide boyfriend while she explored a neighbouring state, said: “I do feel responsible for being naive and too trusting.
“But I do not feel I was negligent. Scarlett was in good hands with people who cared about her. I felt she was in a good family atmosphere.”
The investigation:
Initially they insisted Scarlett had drowned and only launched a murder investigation after a campaign by Fiona forced a second postmortem. It showed that she had been attacked.
Then when officers arrested de Souza, Fiona questioned whether they had the right man and accused them of a cover-up. Fiona, from Bideford, Devon, said: “I can’t believe the police have stooped to this level.
“They should be supporting me and investigating Scarlett’s death.”
And:
“Even so, I was half expecting it. In the Madeleine McCann case the police arrested the parents when they started asking questions. I’m very nervous and I don’t want to go back to the police station but I’m going to make a statement and get it over and done with.”
Police have arrested 28-year-old barman Samson de Souza on suspicion of rape. The murder inquiry continues.
No-one has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.
Posted: 12th, March 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (759) | TrackBack | Permalink
