WATCHDOG URGES MEDIA RESTRAINT
Watchdog chief urges media restraint
CALLS were mounting today for the media to respect the privacy of the grieving families of the Omagh dead.
Lord Wakeham, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, has issued a statement urging newspaper editors to reconsider further saturation coverage.
The move follows yesterday's Belfast Telegraph decision to refrain from further approaches to close family of the Omagh dead in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy unless the approaches are made at their request.
Lord Wakeham's statement said: "The courageous people of Omagh have suffered an unimaginable tragedy. Now they need time to come to terms with it, and to grieve in private.
"I have been impressed by the way in which British newspapers have reported on the tragedy -respecting, so far as I can tell, the grief and shock of the people of this shattered community.
"A number of newspaper editors have indicated to me that they intend to start scaling down their presence after the visit of the Prince of Wales and the first funeral -in order to allow the people of Omagh the privacy to which they are entitled.
"I commend this action -which is in line with the industry's Code of Practice -and hope that the rest of the media will follow this clear lead."
the immediate aftermath of the tragedy unless the approaches are made at their request.
The RUC, in conjunction with families of the bereaved, has also appealed for continued media restraint in relation to the funerals.
This is especially important in the case of the young children, particularly Breda Devine, the RUC statement said, requesting that the funeral was covered by a media pool.
The family of Jolene Marlow have requested that only Irish media attend her funeral, the statement added.
CALLS were mounting today for the media to respect the privacy of the grieving families of the Omagh dead.
Lord Wakeham, chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, has issued a statement urging newspaper editors to reconsider further saturation coverage.
The move follows yesterday's Belfast Telegraph decision to refrain from further approaches to close family of the Omagh dead in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy unless the approaches are made at their request.
Lord Wakeham's statement said: "The courageous people of Omagh have suffered an unimaginable tragedy. Now they need time to come to terms with it, and to grieve in private.
"I have been impressed by the way in which British newspapers have reported on the tragedy -respecting, so far as I can tell, the grief and shock of the people of this shattered community.
"A number of newspaper editors have indicated to me that they intend to start scaling down their presence after the visit of the Prince of Wales and the first funeral -in order to allow the people of Omagh the privacy to which they are entitled.
"I commend this action -which is in line with the industry's Code of Practice -and hope that the rest of the media will follow this clear lead."
the immediate aftermath of the tragedy unless the approaches are made at their request.
The RUC, in conjunction with families of the bereaved, has also appealed for continued media restraint in relation to the funerals.
This is especially important in the case of the young children, particularly Breda Devine, the RUC statement said, requesting that the funeral was covered by a media pool.
The family of Jolene Marlow have requested that only Irish media attend her funeral, the statement added.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0079
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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