mediating the mccanns
trial by press?
The disappearance of
Madeleine McCann
in May 2007 has
polarised views in
the UK and Europe
over abduction, the
demands of modern
parenting and how
the lines between
private and public
have been blurred.
More interesting is
the way that the
press have reported
this story. Senior
Examiner Chris
Bruce reports on the
reporting.
It’s an understatement to particular story provides noted as a quiet and family- is, however, a moral and
say that the McCann case a rich site of investigation oriented resort, friendly to ethical dimension to a
has been one of the most and reflection for media those who came to enjoy story such as this. In the ten
high-profile in recent times students across the country. its shores. Not, then, an years since Princess Diana’s
in British and European The McCanns, an obvious location for what death, media analysts and
news. What makes this ‘ordinary’ family from the has become one of the cultural commentators
story so ‘fascinating’? Just East Midlands, became most famous news stories have often accused the
who is interested in it, and the spotlight of European of recent times. media of exploitation
why? What news agenda news-gatherers last May, and of a ‘feeding-frenzy’
is being given to us? How when their oldest daughter,
Advice to
in the wake of personal
exploitative have the British Madeleine, went missing students tragedy. If you decide to
press actually been? Is one evening while her For Media Studies study a highly charged
there a moral line being parents enjoyed supper students, the story is topic like the McCann case,
adopted about ideologies nearby. The Portuguese particularly fascinating and remember the following:
of parenting? As ever, this village of Praia Da Luz was compelling to follow. There
34 MediaMagazine | February 2008 | english and media centre
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