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  • 23-08-2007 5:20pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,799 ✭✭✭


    On sky there a few hours back there was a live press briefing from the scene of a multiple shooting in Hertfordshire (no details have been released but it sounds like one group attacked another, who returned fire, leading to injuries and arrests on both sides). Anyway, it struck me again that reporters always ask police questions that, so as not to prejudice either the investigation or any future trial, you know full well they arent going to answer. Why ask? Are they really trying to catch out a particularly slow witted officer? As every question was asked Im saying in my head "he cant answer that", and sure enough, he didnt. Why do experienced crime reporters bther asking questions that will only get the "cant currently comment" response?


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,972 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Because the station that sent them at some expense wants something, anything that can show they are on the scene. I'm quite sure its a bit of a game in such cirumstances. ditto politicians.

    "Okay Chief Brody are you ready for the question"

    "yes"

    "fine" pause "do you belive this incident has a racial/terrorist/gang/drug/ aspect to it?"

    "I can't really say at this point, as we don't yet know the full circumstances of what happened" and so on.

    Mike.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,980 ✭✭✭Kevster


    mike65 wrote:
    Because the station that sent them at some expense wants something, anything that can show they are on the scene. I'm quite sure its a bit of a game in such cirumstances.

    ... ...and why do they want to show that they are on the scene? Because they are competing for ratings and, ultimately, money. Money is the cornerstone of many problems in modern society, I feel.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,038 ✭✭✭✭Wishbone Ash


    It's a bit like the totally and utterly pointless questioning of football managers (or indeed any sports managers) prior to big games. Same old, same old stock answers that are so predictable that it makes me want to turn off the radio/TV. :(

    (Apologies for that little rant - it's not like me :o)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,396 ✭✭✭✭Karoma


    Tha Gopher wrote:
    On sky there a few hours back there was a live press briefing from the scene of a multiple shooting in Hertfordshire (no details have been released but it sounds like one group attacked another, who returned fire, leading to injuries and arrests on both sides). Anyway, it struck me again that reporters always ask police questions that, so as not to prejudice either the investigation or any future trial, you know full well they arent going to answer. Why ask? Are they really trying to catch out a particularly slow witted officer? As every question was asked Im saying in my head "he cant answer that", and sure enough, he didnt. Why do experienced crime reporters bther asking questions that will only get the "cant currently comment" response?
    They are asking the questions either pop into Joe Soap's little brain or pounding in the questions and associated implications that suit them.
    Ask them to stop. Next week, we'll have people asking why they don't ask the obvious questions.


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