Why the secrecy?

[anotheoldgit]

Watching the BBC news last night I was surprised by this report on yet another sex trafficking case that took place at the Old Bailey yesterday, but this time not from the 'Dark Satanic Mills' of the North, but from the 'Leafy Groves and Dreaming Spires of Oxford'.

In view of this weeks Rochdale sex trafficking I was equally surprised that this report was tucked away in a 15 second slot amongst the rest of the news, whilst the headline news was regarding the arrest of the teacher who illegally abducted his pupil, excuse me but haven't the BBC got their priorities wrong?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...-oxfordshire-19757460

But having said that I then tried to gain more information on this Oxford case but could only find an old Daily Mail reported dated March 2012, and one by a site called 'Hidden British News' which I gather may be a Far Right web site.

http://hiddenbritishn...men-plead-not-guilty/

And for those who think there is no cause for concern should take a look at the 1,247 reports by Times journalist Andrew Norfolk.

http://www.thetimes.c...rofile/Andrew-Norfolk

[sp1814]

AOG

The case of the missing schoolgirl is the biggest news story of the week. It's been debated in workplaces, pubs and schools up and down the country. Also for a couple of days last week, 'Jeremy Forrest' was the top trending phrase on Twitter, which is as good an indication as any as to why the BBC made it their lead story.

With all this in mind, why do you think Forrest's arrest should not have been the lead story?

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814

That is the whole point of my concerns, yes the teacher and pupil story has been headline news for days, yet here we have yet another case of child abuse happening in yet another area of England, and yet it hardly reaches the news.

/// With all this in mind, why do you think Forrest's arrest should not have been the lead story? ///

In view of the widespread cases of sexual grooming of children, and the fact that one such case only a few days ago, has accusations of certain authorities cover-ups.

Which do you find the most concerning and headline news worthy,
the consensual run-a-way by a teacher and his young 15 year old student, or the increasing sexual abductions of children by gangs of men?

I know which I find the more concerning, now what about you?

[Gromit]

There wasn't really much to report. They attended court and denyed the charges. A court date was set for early 2013.

You will just have to wait until then to satiate you thirst for the sleazy details.

[sp1814]

You asked whether the BBC had its priorities wrong in leading with the Jeremy Forrest case. I don't think it had. As I've already stated - that was the biggest news story of the day.

If the defendants in the Oxford case are convicted, then THAT would indeed be a big story - but news media have to be extremely careful about how they report on committal hearings in case they prejudice forthcoming trials. Basically they can say that X has pleaded 'not guilty' to charges of child grooming at court today. Trial has been set for such and such a date.

You can tell that the BBC most probably got it right by having a look at every major newspaper in the country - they all ran with the Jeremy Forrest arrest, as did Sky News, ITV News and Channel Four News.

Last year the BBC aired an excellent documentary called 'Groomed For Sex', so it's not like it's ignoring the issue.

[sp1814]

Oh, and you asked which story is more concerning to me. I'd say that any form of child abuse is a greater social concern - but that still doesn't mean that is number one on my 'news radar'.

Let's put it this way - there were no doubt dozens of news stories on September 12th should have commanded our attention, but Apple released its new iPhone 5 that day, and that news story got my attention more than anything else. It's not that I don't care about the rest of the news...it just happens that I found that story more interesting.

'interested in' and 'concerned anout' can be two entirely different, but equal states of mind.

[Gromit]

// concerned anout //

So easy to spot iPhone users. (by someone also afflicted).

[sp1814]

Gromit

iPad actually...but with the same little irritations that the iPhone has.

[FredPuli43]

aog, the 'alleged' child abduction has simple facts, the basis of the evidence for the prosecution, which are agreed,; teacher goes abroad with 15 year-old girl and is arrested after big hunt involving the media, which naturally interests the public.No more of the evidence which the prosecution has is being given.

What more do you want to know about the Oxford case? What more is there to print? The men were arrested and charged, without any more. The prosecution's evidence is secret, which it always is now at committals, which are all formalities.And it remains so until the case is opened to the jury. Then the media can, and will give it wide publicity. Nobody will speak of the evidence, nor give any information, hearsay, or comments, which could prejudice the trial, before or during it.

We'll read all about the prosecution evidence when it's opened to the jury at the trial, and can make all our comments about how disgusting (or not) it is then, even before anyone has heard it given by the witnesses, then again when each witness gives it, then again if any of the men are convicted. then again on sentence, then again in response to media comments in the aftermath. That will be when it's all given wide publicity, when the media are allowed access to it all and allowed to report it.