London Bombings...this might sound really stupid

[MargeB]

I was just noticing the irony....the story is about a bunch of terrorist guys who try to get their way by drawing attention to themselves. Those then conveying the story (News programs, newspapers) fulfil this function by giving the terrorists almost permanent news coverage.

I know the News programs are just doing their job, but terrorists must be rubbing their hands at maxing out publicity. London people probably annoy the terrorists by making a point of carrying on their lives as normal. Wonder if we would reach a stage where news channels refuse to maximize coverage?

[Dom Tuk]

Wasnt there a Bond film where a media ****** arranges a disaster so that his newtwork gets all the pictures. News sells. Reputations are made and promotions guaranteed. A low ranking reporter can become a national presenter in a few weeks if his/her scoop (read insensitive obtrusive interview of a dying victim) becomes national news. Get noticed and you have made it thats the mantra. A photograph taken in a split second can be sold for thousands of pounds. Those engaged in this type of work have mortgages to pay and children to feed. Everything goes in this type of work. They followed the chappie who helped the injured girl with a mask and made a melodrama out of his search for the person he had helped. That photo has filled pages.

[BigDogsWang]

I'm sick of the way the BBC appear to be gloating about their coverage.

'And here is the news. 52 people are now confirmed dead in the London bombings. Coming up, how the wonderful BBC have managed to bring you graphic detail of the whole tradegy'

[mongos bird]

Call me cynical but I'm sure the amount of coverage wouldn't have been so extensive/in your face if the arttrocities had happened 'up north'. 

[luckyboy]

Sadly I share your cynicism about todays media.

to them its about events..and the london bombing to them was a massive event.

when to most of us it was a outrage.

the truth is if they maxamise coverage on the more mundane stories like the jacko trial or some celebrity or royal,they feel obliged to dominate the airwaves and print for weeks when something serious happens like the london bombings, thus fulfilling the terrorists goal of maximum publicity.its called 24 hour news..

They also have a habit of making soap opera out of these terrible events, and of being obsessed with the death numbers, its quite a ghoulish spectacle..

[Gevs1966]

Everyone here is taking a very synical view of the media and in a lot of case I agree. However, I'm going to take the cynical view of the British Public here and say that if none of us were interested in finding out what happened then there wouldn't be the amount of coverage you see.

I don't see the issue here as maximising the terrorists publicity, as most of the ongoing stories published are about the heroism, strong will and spirit of the British/London population or about the investigation to find these people. The articles condemn and insult these groups and do as much as they can to minimise the publicity for their "cause".

I see the press in these situations as actually fulfilling their obligation to the people of informing them of what is happening in matters that may concern and terrify a great deal of the public and for this I say fair play to them.

[undercovers]

you can't really blame the media - if you disapprove of what they are going, stop using their services, if enough people agree with you the media would quickly change.

[jake-the-peg]

Personally I think the BBC's coverage has been OK, ITV seems to have had all the over eager regorters searching for the "Untold human story" or whatever.

Not really the point - Look at the question about a man supposidly shot at Canary Warf - see the reaction at a event that may or may not have hapened - the media cannot fail to report a bombing.

Margaret Thatcher showed us how silly this can get - do you remember "Denying the terrorist the oxygen of publicity"? It ended up with Gerry Adams on the TV with his words being voiced over by an actor! 

[smudge]

I read in the paper this morning, that BBC reporters & news readers have been asked to refrain from using the word 'Terrorists' so as not to offend the Muslim people.

Terrorists are terrorists as far as I'm concerned & I will continue to call them so. I don't care what religion they are - or where they come from. Amen!

[jake-the-peg]

Well said Smudge

What about Nelson Mandella - what are you calling him these days? 

[MargeB]

Terrorist Spice.

Martin Luther King he ain't.

[twiglet4frog]

A Sky news panelist that gives advice on terrorist attacks said that it had all the hallmarks of Al Queda on the day of the bombings because they deliberatly try to cause there attacks to happen at the beginning of a working day to make sure they get a full days worth of maximum coverage. targetting at evenings would mean that most of the shock and confusion of it would be lost during the night when people sleep.

[bernardo]

The premise of your question is incorrect.  The purpose was not to "draw attention to themselves", but to kill as many people as possible.

[MargeB]

With the very greatest respect and grief for those who lost lives of their loved ones in this act of barbarity, I think the figures show this isn't the case. 4 men, armed to the teeth, only took out 50 unarmed civilians. Any muppet can take out more than that on his/her own. Terrorism is to terrorize, not to 'wage war'. The allies take out about 50 every hour! Are the fundamentalists just biding their time?

Looks like terror to me: fire for effect.

[MargeB]

That's my 'opinion' bernardo, but you raise a very good point, worth pursuing.

[stevie21]

"I was just noticing the irony..."

[jno]

Okay, let's suppose the opposite: terrorists blow up a bus in London and the media refuse to report it. But people will know about it, of course, London being a busy place. Within 12 hours phones will be ringing and blogs will be gabbing. Within 24 hours conspiracy theories will be booming as people claim (correctly) that something's being covered up, and there will be demands for statements from politicians; also, completely haywire theories about alien attacks, the arrival of The Rapture etc will flourish.

Then what?

Does that sound better than what did happen: a serious act of terrorism, affecting a big city, and widely reported?

[Fish the Mod]

What is strange and not mentioned is in June 27th London Evening Standard, they ran a report about a new book that has been sold to Channel four about four al qaeda who blow up the New Arsenal Emirates ground. The story goes on to say that it happens at a Arsenal V Chelsea game and thousand die. The book is now on sale called Incendiary by Chris Cleave. Sick or what?

[jake-the-peg]

I do have to say I think we got off very very lightly.

Imagine the panic if Antrax spores or an unusually high level of radiation had been found in the tube in the vacinity of the explosions.

I know this is a cue for conspiracy theorists to say there might have been and it's been hushed up, but you can't keep that sort of think quiet for ever and the countries liability would run to billions - so I dont think so.

[MargeB]

jno, of course the news is there for a purpose, and as a democracy we have to remain informed. But I just want to be informed...I don't want incidents of this kind to turn into a total circus. When I heard of the bombings I felt incredulity, then anger, then despair. I'm sure at least one UK News station executive punched his fist in the air saying "Yes, that's coverage sorted out for the next 4 weeks at least."

To demonstrate my point, I recommend anyone to watch an ITV/ITN news programme right through...it's a circus. I can't help thinking that terrorists plan their events knowing that certain acts will achieve total news saturation. Does any sense of responsibility ever enter the minds of these news people?

[Romeo]

I agree with jno.  I think it is good that the media are keeping us informed. Sorry, MargeB, but I don't like being kept in the dark about important happenings, especially as I will be visiting London in a week's time. It's not being turned into a circus, and if some of the news seems repetitive that's not a bad thing either as some people can miss the news for days at a time.