Why is Fabrice Muamba front-page news – but his photos are not?
FABRICE Muamba is on the front pages of the:
Sun: “God Is In Control”
Devastated Shauna Muganda, 27, kept a bedside vigil and tweeted: “God is in control.”
She tweeted it.
Daily Star: “In God’s Hands”
The words hang by photos of Manchester United player clapping – with their hands.
Daily Mirror: “His Heart Failed For Two Hours”
The Guardian, Times and Independent lead with photos of football players and fans paying tributs to Muamba and hopeing he pulls through.
Why is this front-page news?
Over in India, the Times of India explains its editorial policy in light of a gang rape:
In recent times, TOI has tried to avoid carrying disturbing reports of rape and suicide, especially of minors, on front page (even today we have put one such report inside). While our primary duty is to report news without attaching any value judgment, we also believe it is our responsibility to spare our readers the trauma such reports cause (to the extent possible).
But every now and then, we are left with little option but to make exceptions to our rule, particularly when law enforcers appear apathetic – at times, even callous – in their approach to prevention, investigation and/or prosecution.
The unchecked spate of violent crimes against women in Gurgaon is one such instance where the local and state administration’s approach amounts to negligence. Till such time as we see greater seriousness from the police, we will continue to highlight such crimes, even if it means unsettling our readers in the morning. The administration needs to feel the heat of public outrage.
The old adage was once: if it bleeds it leads. Now journalists have to explain when serious news item gains prominence.
But paper do lead with phots of the dead and dying? So, why no photos of a stricken Fabrice Muamba? Are footballers an exception? Or are the papers waiting to se if he pulls through? Aren’t readers curious to see what the Bolton and Spurs players saw?
13079760
Spotter: Fleet Street Blues.
Posted: 19th, March 2012 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
