Madeleine McCann: Prayers, Bones And Media
MADDYWATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
Remember, everyone, to play Anorak Bingo you must mention Madeleine McCann, Shannon Matthews and – here’s the tie-breaker – Scarlett Keeling. Eyes down…
DAILY MAIL: Amanda Platell
There cannot be a person in the country who didn’t feel a surge of delight on learning that little Shannon Matthews has been found alive and well.
We can think of one.
All the more so in these days when good news has become such a rare commodity. Yet even as we celebrate, we should spare a thought for Gerry and Kate McCann, for whom Shannon’s discovery, wonderful as it is, will be a fresh reminder of their own terrible loss. The return of one lost girl is a marvel. The return of two . . . now that’s a miracle worth praying for.
Was it the power of prayer that got Shannon Matthews found? If so, who gets the reward?
Tick. Tick.
THE INDEPENDENT: “Deborah Orr: Wonderful news that carries a message for the media”
It isn’t often that the papers have some really wonderful news to report. But it really is wonderful that Shannon Matthews has been found alive.
Amanda Platell agrees.
This amazing news also carries a lesson for the media, about the way it turns horrible crimes into great stories, and what an unpleasant, self-regarding business this can be.
There were suggestions that Shannon’s disappearance was not getting the coverage afforded to another lost child, Madeleine McCann, because the latter was a middle-class child and the former a child from a more modest and chaotic background. There is some truth in this argument, of course.
You can read about it all over the media.
But the underlying assumption is that all the publicity around the McCann case is something desirable and useful, while the more meagre reporting about the Matthew case is undesirable and useless. If children really could be reunited with their parents because of the magical power of speculative column inches, though, then Madeleine, not Shannon, would have been returned to her family by now. The very idea that the hypocritical furore around Madeleine is something to be aspired to, a benchmark of any positive kind, is quite wrong and ought to be challenged.
The McCanns should not be the media’s benchmark for missing children. We’ve heard that before…
True, the “debate” helped to keep Shannon’s abduction in the public domain, just as the “debate” around Made-leine continues to keep her case in the public domain.
A debate. On what? What was being debated?
It might be argued that there would have been no great endeavour to find Shannon had the press not made the supposedly modest fuss it did.
MEdia.
I believe this isn’t the case. The local media has a vast part to play, but the national and international press, apart from reporting facts about the investigation, can offer little but intrusive “colour”. The reality is that the vast majority of the “stories” written about the McCann case have been prurient and sensational pieces of cynical propaganda, serving no practical purpose at all except for the selling of newspapers.
Indeed. Read all about selling papers in the Independent.
Tick. Tick.
IRISH INDEPENDENT: “Divers recover bag of small bones in search for Maddy”
DIVERS searching an Algarve reservoir for Madeleine McCann yesterday found a plastic bag containing small bones. Police experts were last night examining the gruesome find made by a frogman working for a Portuguese lawyer.
Gerry and Kate McCann were informed immediately by a private detective who was observing the search. Madeira-based lawyer Marcos Aragao Correia says he was tipped off by underworld contacts that Madeleine was murdered and her body thrown into the reservoir last May.The search turned up the bones in the murky waters of the Barragem do Arabe reservoir yesterday at 3.30pm.
Mr Correia said last night: “We found two bags one of which contains some small bones. We don’t know if they are human bones or not at this stage. If they are human bones, they look like they come from a child’s fingers.”
Tick. And a half tick for speculation.
THIS IS LONDON: “Bag of small bones found in reservoir where lawyer claims Madeleine McCann’s body was dumped”
Says Clarence Mitchell: “We have not been informed of anything by the police to indicate that this find is significant. There is nothing to indicate at this stage that they are human bones and they could easily be from an animal. There is nothing at the moment to indicate that this find has anything to do with Madeleine. We continue to believe she is alive.”
THE SUN: “Shannon: 24 days of tears”
IN the end, the prayers were answered – as yesterday the tears of anguish over missing Shannon Matthews turned to sobs of relief.
Prayers. What of the tip off? The police work?
TIMELINE:
Sunday, February 24: CHURCHGOERS pray for Shannon’s safe return. Madeleine McCann’s parents send a message of support.
Tick. Tick.
THE GUARDIAN: “What women want”
Following last year’s Booker win, Anne Enright is finally enjoying wider recognition - despite her work’s reputation for being gloomy and obsessed with sex and death
She became the target of ire in the tabloids when they picked up an article she wrote in the London Review of Books dissecting her reaction to the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. The piece was full of ambivalence, describing her suspicions of Gerry and Kate McCann but in the end condemning her own voyeurism. She refuses to say whether the fracas upset her, but seems sensibly resigned, agreeing that events proved how she was naive to think her nuances would be understood in the grotesque guessing game that the story had become: “I was misread and I hoped that would become apparent, but there’s no point in me stomping around and fighting with shadows.”
Posted: 15th, March 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Madeleine McCann, Tabloids Comments (621) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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March 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
81 Mods. Fair enough. How about this version:
Commenting on the Goa case, their brand new spokesman Bishop Brennan said: “They are delighted that she is being questioned about neglect. It proves that children must not be left alone by selfish and irresponsible parents for whatever reason”
March 15th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Shows how gutless the UK press are to not even go and ask him for a comment. They could even report his ‘no comment’ and let readers draw their own conclusions… But no. Nothing.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
81
Bishop Brennan
I wish!
March 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
And where are the comments from the McCanns about the “Goa Mother in Neglect Probe” story? No attempt to hi-jack that story… I wonder why!
March 15th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
From the Mirror
Why are those scumbags sueing the media?
After all, their sorry names are once again associatd with an abducted child, just how they like it.
They are not waiting for news: they are SUSPECTS WHO FLED THE COUNTRY AND REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH THE POLICE.
Madeleine is NOT 4.
The holy Ones say they are thankful.
For what?
For letting other parents do what they never did: being totally honest, fully cooperating with the police and relentlesly searching themselves resulting in the child being saved.
Once again they are allowed for whatever reason to jump on another family’s bandwagon.
Kate and Gerry McCann, still waiting for news of their daughter Madeleine, four, missing for nearly a year, said they were thankful Shannon had been found alive.
Their spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “They are delighted that she is alive. It proves that children can go missing for whatever reason and still be found alive.”
March 15th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
7
jo Says:
March 15th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Morning all
Here we go again
=======================
Whilst obviously hoping and praying for the safe discovery and return of Shannon Mathews, I was also hoping and praying that the McCrims wouldn’t jump on the Shannon Mathews bandwagon but obviously to no avail. Are they now going to send their “heart-felt sympathies” and thoughts and wishes and what-not to the parents/ family of every child that now goes missing from hereon in ? Do they even spare a thought for the fact that maybe, just maybe, most of these genuine and horribly bereft people even want to hear from them ? I wouldn’t….
Shannon’s Mum has aged about 40 years in the interim and has displayed all the reactions of a “proper” mother whose child has just disappeared without trace, rhyme or reason ….or should I say “whoosh…clonked” without trace. Far from keeping the McCrims in the public sympathy, they are rapidly become the engineers of their own destruction as everyone I speak to says the same thing i.e. “…oh no !! not THEM again !! ”
Madeleine is still missing, we had thought it wouldn’t be too much longer before she re-appeared but the fact remains that this poor, sad little girl is missing under the most horrible circumstances and no closure …yet, something her parents seem to be losing sight of.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:57 am
As my general tune is that the police is generally in danger to act hastily in high profile cases where they are under high public pressure, I feel it would be a bit unfair if I criticised them for not smashing the doors of all possible suspects within the first 24 hours. In the McCann case they waited four months to declare the parents suspects, and where still criticised for being hasty and acting on the base of inconclusive evidence. You can’t have it both ways.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:55 am
I think the media handled the Shannon case really well.
Accurate reporting, not damaging police investigation.
Sticking to the facts is not judgmental imo.
It is TRUE Shannon’s mum has a lot of children with different fathers.
And that does not make her a bad, neglecting parent(unlike another couple).
It shows Shannon has a large family.
Shannon’s mother has been given the opportunity to speak about her suspicions someone close took Shannon.
The public was informed and alerted because of the media and it resulted in the tip off.
Glad Shannon was saved.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:49 am
45
Spam n Bones Says:
Gerry, as he is dragged, handcuffed, onto the plane for Portugal:
“It wasn’t supposed to be that way” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Errm and in case this should happen [which for some reason I doubt] than it’s hardly likely the men will ever be able to get their prize, because Kate “stands by her man”
March 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
45
Spam n Bones Says:
March 15th, 2008 at 10:45 am
One for agw’s sin bin.
Famous last words.
What’s-his-name, as he is dragged, handcuffed, to a waiting police-car:
“I’m a poorly man, I should be going to hospital.”
Gerry, as he is dragged, handcuffed, onto the plane for Portugal:
“Trust me I’m a doctor” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fill in your entry, and return to Mods & Admin.
First prize, for our lady readers, a new wardrobe and makeover, from Fiona and Kate.
First prize, for our gentleman readers, a weekend at Champneys, with Fiona and Kate.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ferdinand, well it wasn’t because they had two tips in the first week, saying she was in that house,allegedly.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
70 Julie Says:
“I would list footsteps in an apparently empty apartment as probably high on the agenda of suspicious items to investigate”
I understand this was the reason why the police decided to smash the door.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:23 am
CSN, pure class.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQlG1ET5VWo
March 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
68
Ferdinand Says:
March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Then come those hints that are based on a specific suspicion (as for example footsteps in an apparently empty appartment).
—————————————————–
I would list footsteps in an apparently empty apartment as probably high on the agenda of suspicious items to investigate when there is a missing child of whom absolutely NO trace has been found, and particularly because it was in such close proximity to where she disappeared!
March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
CSN, Ah what a gifted football player Sócrates was, he is or was a Doctor, a heart surgeon no less and he smoked a 100 fags a day, even when he was at the peak of his career, with Brazil, a truly gifted player.
.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
56 Gandolf Says:
” Ferdinand, why are you squirming, your take is bollox and you avoid addressing, what could have been a tragedy, because of alleged poor police work.”
I don’t see poor police work. The police has to follow the hints one after the other. Hints which suggest that the child might be in actual danger of severe harm must be given highest priority. Then come those hints that are based on a specific suspicion (as for example footsteps in an apparently empty appartment). Unspecific hints on odd but not necessarily dangerous subjects will have rightly the lowest priority.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:17 am
see you all later, have a nice day!
March 15th, 2008 at 11:16 am
CSN - ahhh ok…. although I have asked you quite a few times if you would like me to forward your email to her, but you never seem to answer me. You know all you have to do is click my name and contact me. I wont mention it again
March 15th, 2008 at 11:13 am
just_me
Jo was saying that i can find her email by you
Now I’m really gone
March 15th, 2008 at 11:12 am
55
Gandolf
Yep Paulo Rebelo and others !
Ask Mr. Sócrates|
March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am
errrr. ok , thanks Julie
March 15th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hi there Just_me
It means :
You already know like ponerte in contact with me
(Compliments of babelfish
- bet you’re still none the wiser 
)
March 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am
54
Jo
ok - that was a graceful acceptance of my apology- next time any one gives me info on someone I will ignore it thanks…
March 15th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Mods - any idea what post 57 means?
March 15th, 2008 at 11:06 am
57????? sorry, I dont understand? ask me what?
Morning
March 15th, 2008 at 11:05 am
can’t say no
Gone
Ya sabes como ponerte en contacto conmigo
Ask Just_me
Ciao
March 15th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Ferdinand, why are you squirming, your take is bollox and you avoid addressing, what could have been a tragedy, because of alleged poor police work.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:01 am
CSN So that every one else knows, the name that for some reason you cannot say is……….Paulo Rebelo.
What’s he doing with himself these days, CSN ??
March 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
51
pat
2 passports: one french,one swiss
You are right : I do not make any effort to check my grammar etc…very lazy
I make the effort when absolutely necessary
March 15th, 2008 at 11:00 am
45 Gandolf Says:
“Ferdinand, you miss the point, the YP were allegedly told by two seperate sources, one a charity,”
How could the charity have known? Had they a specific suspicion? Or did they only hand in a list of maybe hundreds of people who had some kind of history in matters of child custody?
It seems this man is not a known sex offender. So maybe other leads were given rightly a higher priority, until this lead became hot by the neighbour’s statement.