Heartless journalists

MagicSean · 15-11-2011 09:20PM #1

http://www.herald.ie/news/schoolgirl-10-killed-taking-shortcut-home-2934552.html

A SCHOOLGIRL was crushed to death as she crossed a road just yards from her home last night.

Ten-year-old Louise Fleming was crossing the busy N81 with three friends at Blessington, Co Wicklow when she was struck by an oncoming car.

The children were en-route from the Blessington Orchard estate to the nearby Texaco service station at around 5.40pm when the tragedy occurred.

Little Louise's father Maurice was too distraught to talk today when the Herald called to their home but locals said everybody was "numb with grief".

Louise and her pals had made their way from their homes, up a grassy bank and through a hole in the wire fence that is a shortcut to the road.

The young girl -- who was a pupil at St Mary's Senior National School in Blessington -- suffered fatal injuries.

She was rushed to Naas General Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.

The spot where she was knocked down is visible from the Fleming house yards away.

A bouquet of flowers and a teddy bear were placed at the spot where Louise had come through the wire fence.

Neighbours told the Herald that local kids use a few different holes in the fencing to take short cuts to the Texaco shop.

West Wicklow TD Billy Timmins told the Herald today that the incident had left the community "numb with grief".

"Louise's death is a devastating tragedy.

"My sympathies are with her family at this difficult time. People in Blessington are numb with grief."

Principal of St Mary's School Gerry Brown said: "She was a lovely girl and our hearts go out to the family."

It is the second incident on the N81 in the space of two weeks, after a man in this thirties was struck while out sweeping leaves. He is currently in a critical condition in Naas General Hospital.

Local sources said stretches of the N81 are "treacherous".

The young girl's death comes just weeks after local hero Garda Jones was swept away amid devastating floods.

Garda Jones, of Kilbride, was attempting to assist locals with the floods when he drowned.

First of all I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this little girl. A tragic day. May she rest in peace.

I just want to draw your attention to the part I have put in bold. What kind of heartless bastard tries to interview a grieving father within 24 hours of him losing his young daughter? I'm disgusted.

super_furry · 15-11-2011 09:22PM

MagicSean wrote: »

What kind of heartless bastard tries to interview a grieving father within 24 hours of him losing his young daughter? I'm disgusted.

The kind that scrawls for a scummy little rag like The Herald. I'm surprised they didn't just make up some quotes.

hondasam · 15-11-2011 09:24PM

It might not be nice but it's a journalists job, people use the press when it suits them.

RIP to the child and my thoughts are with her family.

rockmongrel · 15-11-2011 09:27PM

hondasam wrote: »

It might not be nice but it's a journalists job, people use the press when it suits them.

Calling people who work at the Herald and other tabloids journalists is an insult to the profession.

kincsem · 15-11-2011 09:28PM

Journalist probably sent by editor.

Frank Black · 15-11-2011 09:29PM

hondasam wrote: »

It might not be nice but it's a journalists job, people use the press when it suits them.

RIP to the child and my thoughts are with her family.

It's only their job because that's what their editor decided.

Would never buy that rag of a paper anyway, this just confirms I've made a correct choice.

Saila · 15-11-2011 09:30PM

journalests, great bunch a lads

My name is URL · 15-11-2011 09:33PM

So that's how low the Herald can go

Havermeyer · 15-11-2011 09:41PM

kincsem wrote: »

Journalist probably sent by editor.

That's exactly what it is. And although it's terrible for the family, and I'm not condoning it being done, I wouldn't imagine it's too nice for the journalist either - who would usually, in cases like this, be quite low down the pecking order.

Sooopie · 15-11-2011 09:44PM

black francis wrote: »

It's only their job because that's what their editor decided.

Would never buy that rag of a paper anyway, this just confirms I've made a correct choice.

recommend me a good paper to read, black francis

you seem to know the score

starbelgrade · 15-11-2011 09:44PM

OP reads Herald website.

OP complains about person sent to do his job.

OP re-prints entire article.

Newspaper wins.

OP loses.

Yakult · 15-11-2011 09:46PM

Just doing their job unfortunately. Theirs obviously a hierarchy and a journalist (Unless freelance) will be told what to do or lose their job. Heartless corporations more like it

MagicSean · 15-11-2011 09:47PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

OP reads Herald website.

OP complains about person sent to do his job.

OP re-prints entire article.

Newspaper wins.

OP loses.

Actually I quoted the whole article because I wanted to also bring attention to the tragedy itself.

Sooopie · 15-11-2011 09:48PM

MagicSean wrote: »

Actually I quoted the whole article because I wanted to also bring attention to the tragedy itself.

you've lost some of your magic, sean

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 15-11-2011 09:48PM

It's the hearld - journalist never went, they just wrote what would have happened if they had.

flutterflye · 15-11-2011 09:51PM

I don't buy this "just doing their job" bs.
If part of my job was to be so cold and callous, then I would say "no".
If that got me fired, well so be it.
I'd rather do something that didn't cause upset to grieving families.

themadchef · 15-11-2011 09:55PM

hondasam wrote: »

It might not be nice but it's a journalists job, people use the press when it suits them.

I dont agree. He can interview the priest, the road safety authority spokesperson, the council spokesperson, the local how'ya's, anyone.....fúcking cheek to ring the familys doorbell.

These journo's are long enough on the go to know exactly who to talk to.

That Mammy and Daddy, their little hearts are broken in two

do ya think they can even put a sentance together right now? I doubt i could in their shoes. God bless them. So close to Christmas too.

I know everyone has a job to do, but there should be an unwritten rule, a line in the sand in every profession imo.

abouttobebanned · 15-11-2011 09:57PM

I don't understand this tbh.

I studied journalism in college and it was a great education for me. I learned, first and foremost, that I didn't want to be a journalist. I mean what kind of soundbite did the reporter expect to get? That man's life is over, he ain't the story, his comment is not needed.

I started a thread in the Waterford forum last week and the story I wrote about became a front page piece in the local paper down here. I know exactly how it happened too. Journalist reads boards every day hoping to see someone juicy. Finds a story about a Rottweiler attacking a little yorkie...rings the pound and rings the vet. Takes my info and quotes to fabricate a quote "from a witness that contacted us" and hey presto a front page story without doing a whole lot of work.

So many journalists have lost interest in their profession.

hondasam · 15-11-2011 10:14PM

themadchef wrote: »

I dont agree. He can interview the priest, the road safety authority spokesperson, the council spokesperson, the local how'ya's, anyone.....fúcking cheek to ring the familys doorbell.

These journo's are long enough on the go to know exactly who to talk to.

I think it's better to speak to the family rather than to ask strangers. Who wants to walk into their local shop to find their loved one all over the papers with quotes from strangers.
Lets not forget the pictures they take from Facebook.

K-9 · 15-11-2011 10:24PM

It does seem inappropriate and insensitive.

Given the right context it can be powerful. Denis Murray had a mini series about his time as the BBC correspondent in the North. He spoke about the time he interviewed a mother about her son murdered, very soon after it happened. He did wonder why he was doing it but it did really bring home the effect of what was happening in Northern Ireland at the time. Hard to know if interviews like that had any effect on the eventual peace agreement.

Scruffles · 15-11-2011 10:28PM

it is clear that these journos have become to hardened to reality in their quest to gain sensationalism and glory above other tabloids.
media is a tough game,they have targets to meet- there is a lot of pressure on tabloid journos in particular to go deep into the dirty undergrowth of news in order to stay a part of the team or a regular freelancer so many will see a good story instead of the burden left by a fatal road traffic accident.

though one good thing is they are not all a discredit to the trade,can think of many who do respect the people behind their stories and clean journalism.

& from personal experience through sister and her boyfriend; know several with the BBC-her boyfriend sometimes is one [an ocasional reporter for bbc norwich] a mate of both of theirs who is a popular bbc news reporter,and they have another mate who is a freelance tabloid reporter,its incredible some of the assignments they get but its only because theyre a credit to the industry,well...not really including the bro in law as he isnt a journo by trade though he gets brownie points for P/ing off the manager of norwich football club live on air a few years ago.
>waffle finished.

Callipo · 15-11-2011 11:04PM

MagicSean wrote: »

http://www.herald.ie/news/schoolgirl-10-killed-taking-shortcut-home-2934552.html

First of all I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this little girl. A tragic day. May she rest in peace.

I just want to draw your attention to the part I have put in bold. What kind of heartless bastard tries to interview a grieving father within 24 hours of him losing his young daughter? I'm disgusted.

read that in the paper earlier today OP and said to the missus that those twats need to be punched, just once but quite hard, in the face for doing that.

Regardless who made them they should have some fukin brains to gauge a situation.

Conor Feehan and Niall O'Connor appear to be the journos. I wonder are they on the usual social media.....

RichieC · 15-11-2011 11:43PM

and it's illegal for a people to sell themselves for sex............

Jimoslimos · 16-11-2011 12:12AM

I'm not sure I see what all the outrage is about. I'm sure in cases like this the parents are innundated with friends, relatives and people they might only have a brief acquaintance with.

Herald guy goes and offers his condolensces first (I hope), asks if they'd like to say anything, maybe a quote about their daughter that they might like to be remembered by a wider audience - they say no, a private matter - journalist respects this.

I mean if the local TD can comment on it, and most probably attend the funeral - what's the difference between that and the herald being there?

Son Of A Vidic · 16-11-2011 12:13AM

People can say that the journalist was doing his job. But surely a little bit of tact, cop on and sensitivity is something you would expect from any competent journalist.

Minstrel27 · 16-11-2011 12:18AM

I remember a TV3 scumbag and his camera man going to the door of a grieving family less than 24 hours after a car crash

Callipo · 16-11-2011 12:41AM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

I'm not sure I see what all the outrage is about. I'm sure in cases like this the parents are innundated with friends, relatives and people they might only have a brief acquaintance with.

Herald guy goes and offers his condolensces first (I hope), asks if they'd like to say anything, maybe a quote about their daughter that they might like to be remembered by a wider audience - they say no, a private matter - journalist respects this.

I mean if the local TD can comment on it, and most probably attend the funeral - what's the difference between that and the herald being there?

.
If (and I hope not) your mum or dad dies in a horrible way I hope you feel the same.

southsiderosie · 16-11-2011 12:48AM

MagicSean wrote: »

http://www.herald.ie/news/schoolgirl-10-killed-taking-shortcut-home-2934552.html

First of all I would like to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this little girl. A tragic day. May she rest in peace.

I just want to draw your attention to the part I have put in bold. What kind of heartless bastard tries to interview a grieving father within 24 hours of him losing his young daughter? I'm disgusted.

One of my old housemates used to be a tabloid reporter, and on the (thankfully rare) occasions when her editor gave her assignments like this, she wouldn't actually go, and would just tell him later that the family didn't want to talk to the press.

Shanotheslayer · 16-11-2011 12:52AM

flutterflye wrote: »

I don't buy this "just doing their job" bs.
If part of my job was to be so cold and callous, then I would say "no".
If that got me fired, well so be it.
I'd rather do something that didn't cause upset to grieving families.

Well, why would you apply to a job that would be cold and callous in the first place if that's not what you wanted?

flutterflye · 16-11-2011 12:58AM

Shanotheslayer wrote: »

Well, why would you apply to a job that would be cold and callous in the first place if that's not what you wanted?

Maybe you were interested in other parts of journalism?
Who knows.

There are always parts to your job that you don't like, but I draw the line at hurting others.

Posy · 16-11-2011 01:12AM

black francis wrote: »

It's only their job because that's what their editor decided.

nummnutts wrote: »

I wouldn't imagine it's too nice for the journalist either - who would usually, in cases like this, be quite low down the pecking order.

I remember reading John Walsh's book 'Tears of Rage' about the abduction of his six year old son. Shortly after he and his wife were told the remains of their son had been found and he had been murdered (the remains were their little boy's severed head, found in a canal) they were hounded by journalists trying to get a quote from them.
Apparently one journalist showed up at their door and begged for a quote, saying 'Please, my boss will fire me if I don't come back with anything.'
John Walsh said he just lost it. Screamed at her to get off his lawn and to send the f**king boss to do his own dirty work.

There's a time to call at somebody's home and there's a time to let people grieve and come to terms with having their lives shattered. Less than 24 hours after the sudden death of a child, is not the time.

Heartless journalists

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