OMAGH REPORTED BY INSENSITIVE CRETINS
Omagh reported by 'insensitive' cretins
WHEN the horror of the Omagh bomb has receded a little, if that's possible, I believe a serious analysis must take place of what we have come to expect, or will accept, as serious news coverage.
It was right that the carnage should be fully, graphically reported in all its horror.
It was right that clear political analyses should also be presented - unfortunately this was rare.
It says much about those sad, contemptible politicians who condemn and make cheap political points against a background of pain, horror and revulsion.
To its credit the media let them show themselves for the callous, self-serving hypocrites they are.
However, in other areas, the media was found wanting.
On Monday evening UTV Live opened with Mike Nesbitt indulging in what amounted to a rant. Understandable - but not the role of a serious, experienced journalist.
We have had the spectacle of all sorts of politicians and opinion-formers being paraded across our television screens -some of the hang-em flog-em variety, like some Tory MPs and right-wing newspaper editors, Irish and English; others with an axe to grind and sounding like an echo, like Lord Fitt and John Major, who can both be relied on to say all the wrong things.
We had the spectacle of discredited royals being wheeled out by their spin-doctors so that a tarnished image could be air-brushed with a combination of suitable soundbites and soft focus images.
This was the glossy magazine exploitation of the slaughter of innocents.
Not to be outdone, the Irish News shamefully got in on the act.
To call for internment (Irish News August 18) was almost unbelievable.
Have we learnt nothing? The hysterical reaction that followed the Birmingham bombings brought about 'the most draconian of measures', to quote the then British home secretary Roy Jenkins. The Birmingham six, Guildford four, Maguire seven, need I go on?
Brian Feeney was also guilty of an ill-measured article (Irish News August 18) which amounted to a selective attack on one particular party.
Dr Feeney has been responsible for some of the most incisive pieces in recent times and perhaps, on quiet reflection, he may realise his emotional haste.
All that said I reserve my greatest contempt for those stupid people responsible for the intrusion into the lives and homes of the bereaved and injured.
To take a camera crew and stick a microphone in front of people who are devastated, shocked and in need of comfort is the action of an insensitive cretin.
To then proceed with some asinine questions is an act of abject cruelty.
For what purpose is this type of coverage?
Who decides that it has to be done?
Who has such a great need to see it?
Has the media become immune to suffering and misery in the interests of 'good copy'?
Despite the horror of the last 30 years we still witnessed the aftermath of the Omagh slaughter with the usual bloodcurdling, knee-jerkism. We learn nothing, we forget nothing.
When this sad chapter of our history is written it will record that at a time when cool heads and temperate language was required it was regrettably (not least among the Irish government and some nationalist politicians) in short supply.
Patrick Reilly
Tyrone
WHEN the horror of the Omagh bomb has receded a little, if that's possible, I believe a serious analysis must take place of what we have come to expect, or will accept, as serious news coverage.
It was right that the carnage should be fully, graphically reported in all its horror.
It was right that clear political analyses should also be presented - unfortunately this was rare.
It says much about those sad, contemptible politicians who condemn and make cheap political points against a background of pain, horror and revulsion.
To its credit the media let them show themselves for the callous, self-serving hypocrites they are.
However, in other areas, the media was found wanting.
On Monday evening UTV Live opened with Mike Nesbitt indulging in what amounted to a rant. Understandable - but not the role of a serious, experienced journalist.
We have had the spectacle of all sorts of politicians and opinion-formers being paraded across our television screens -some of the hang-em flog-em variety, like some Tory MPs and right-wing newspaper editors, Irish and English; others with an axe to grind and sounding like an echo, like Lord Fitt and John Major, who can both be relied on to say all the wrong things.
We had the spectacle of discredited royals being wheeled out by their spin-doctors so that a tarnished image could be air-brushed with a combination of suitable soundbites and soft focus images.
This was the glossy magazine exploitation of the slaughter of innocents.
Not to be outdone, the Irish News shamefully got in on the act.
To call for internment (Irish News August 18) was almost unbelievable.
Have we learnt nothing? The hysterical reaction that followed the Birmingham bombings brought about 'the most draconian of measures', to quote the then British home secretary Roy Jenkins. The Birmingham six, Guildford four, Maguire seven, need I go on?
Brian Feeney was also guilty of an ill-measured article (Irish News August 18) which amounted to a selective attack on one particular party.
Dr Feeney has been responsible for some of the most incisive pieces in recent times and perhaps, on quiet reflection, he may realise his emotional haste.
All that said I reserve my greatest contempt for those stupid people responsible for the intrusion into the lives and homes of the bereaved and injured.
To take a camera crew and stick a microphone in front of people who are devastated, shocked and in need of comfort is the action of an insensitive cretin.
To then proceed with some asinine questions is an act of abject cruelty.
For what purpose is this type of coverage?
Who decides that it has to be done?
Who has such a great need to see it?
Has the media become immune to suffering and misery in the interests of 'good copy'?
Despite the horror of the last 30 years we still witnessed the aftermath of the Omagh slaughter with the usual bloodcurdling, knee-jerkism. We learn nothing, we forget nothing.
When this sad chapter of our history is written it will record that at a time when cool heads and temperate language was required it was regrettably (not least among the Irish government and some nationalist politicians) in short supply.
Patrick Reilly
Tyrone
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0383
Published Date: 12-Sep-98
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