The Sun Shines On Madeleine McCann
MADELEINE McCann is still missing.
“WE HAVEN’T GOT A CLUE,” says the Sun’s front page. The paper quotes Chief Inspector Oligario Sousa: “We have examined many leads, but each has now been discontinued. Everything that we have looked at so far has been discounted.”
At least this is what Sousa is telling the Sun. The Portuguese police have not involved the British press in all aspects of the hunt for Madeleine McCann. Sousa is not a recognisable face to British readers and TV watchers from press conferences. The E-fit picture of Madeleine was not made available to the Sun.
So instead of the Sun saying how tireless Portuguese police work is, by a process of elimination, moving ever closer to solving the mystery, readers get an altogether less positive headline.
The message is that the Portuguese police haven’t a clue, and this despite the McCanns thanking them for their hard work. And this in light of what the Mirror calls an “official news blackout”.
What will get results is the Sun’s poster, which it tells us is “a big hit”. The poster is “flying around the globe”. Thanks to the Sun, 15,000 posters of Madeleine’s face were handed out at Saturday’s Celtic v Aberdeen football match.
“Maddie cops are back to square one,” says the Sun. Although they are not. The Portuguese police have ruled out suspects and possibilities.
But no matter, because the Sun will crack the case. Or at least spread the anxiety, remind people that a girl has gone missing and that it could have been your child.
But the Sun is not alone. Here’s Tony Parsons in the Mirror. He has lost sight of his child:
“My wife and my daughter were in the school changing room packing up the tutu after ballet. I was waiting right outside, kicking around a ball with the kid brother of one of my daughter’s friends. Eventually my wife came out alone. ‘Where is she?’ my wife asked. ‘Isn’t she with you?’ I said. And that’s how it happens.”
Parsons’ child was found in a classroom. She was “chilling out”. Nearly all children are found. The theft of a child is extremely rare.
Parsons is a victim of the anxiety of what is routinely called “every parent’s worst nightmare”, and he is helping to spread the virus of fear.
Meanwhile, away from Parson’s ballet trauma and a football match in Scotland, the Mirror leads with yet another picture of Madeleine McCann’s parents. More time for readers to see the strain “etched” on their faces. “PRAY FOR MADELEINE,” says the Mirror’s masthead.
There is no news of Madeleine McCann. But the papers continue to report without any need to inform or educate, to spread the fear and compete to show which of them cares the most…
May 14th, 2007 at 10:59 am
This spreading the fear has been going on for years. People believe that children are much more likely to be abducted than they were thirty years ago. This is simply NOT TRUE. The figures on child abductions have been more or less static for this period. What has happened is that there is now far more publicity than there ever used to be.
This hysteria is generated by the way the press report these cases, the result of this hysteria is that children get wrapped in cotton wool and effectively prevented from developing proper social skills.
The press complain that this “massive increase” in “paedo activity” (all inaccurate but never mind) is stealing our childen’s childhood. In fact it is the hysteria created by perpetuating the myth that our children are now in more danger that is performing the theft.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:35 am
The papers report because we the readers want any kind of update. I am in the US checking for new stories about little Madeleine all the time. My heart breaks for this family, and I am no more afraid for my own child than I was yesterday. I don’t believe the papers report to spread the fear and show who cares the most. Being glib doesn’t help anything.
May 14th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Glib? The Mail’s front page asks how much more Mrs McCann can take? Is this an invitation to speculate on how close to break down the mother has become?
The papers spend more time looking at the parents than looking for the story, solving the mystery…
May 14th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
The papers need to keep it in the public eye, we cant let this story get put on the back burner. Why no question of the spanish police and what if anything they are doing. why no searches in spain being carried out. they think she is out of portugal so why hasnt the spanish police taken over or made a effort to search propertys and ground search like was done in portugal for a few days - a few days in spain thats all we ask.
Please give her back, we need her back
May 14th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I agree with Joan, if they’re reporting, even if they’re just reporting that there is nothing to report, then it’s keeping Madeleine in the papers and not letting her slip in to the abyss!
May 14th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
But they are not reporting that there is nothing to report, they are focussing on the McCann family and, as noted by Anorak above, speculating on how close Mrs McCann is to a breakdown. This unforgiveable intrusion into the distress of a family, and is being done to ‘prove how much the paper cares’, while at the same time making a fast buck. I know my outlook often verges onto cynical, but this attitude from the press really takes the biscuit.
May 14th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Another issue is that this will only remain a story for as long as the press deem that ‘it shall be so’. Once the sensitivities of the public move onto something else (brave celebrity fighting cancer, Beckhams expecting another child etc.) then the papers will also move on, because that is where the money is. There is a limit to how much money they can milk out of each individual case of despair.
May 14th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
The law in Portgugal prevents the police from discussing any aspect of the case
So, it is the job of the newspapers to keep the story high profile
A young girl has been abcucted and the media are keeping the story alive in the hope that she will be returned safe and sound to her family
Keep Madeliene and her family in your thoughts….and keep an eye out for her. She could be anywhere
Phil
May 14th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I am not disputing that it would be good to keep this high profile for as long as possible, this will clearly maximise the chances that the poor little soul is found. What I am questioning is why and how the tabloids are doing this, is it moral to shove cameras in the face of distressed relatives? Should we have questions about their sanity in the headlines? Are the newspapers each on a crusade to show that they care more than the others? Will they drop the story when the ‘next big thing’ comes along? I think they will.
May 14th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
please take a look at myspace and see how many people across the nations are giving there best wishes and support to the McCanns, on behalf of everybody involved i would like to send our prayers and thoughts and hope for the safe return of their daughter Maddie
May 14th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
please feel free to view mine and a few other myspace profiles just to see what kind of support is being given
May 14th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
http://www.myspace.com/grm1977
May 14th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
Well said “The Usual Suspect” I Completely agree. While it is so sad and tragic that this beautiful little girl has been abducted from her parents it is also so sad and tragic that children are wrapped in cotton wool and unable to develop social skills because the media makes everybody believe we are all “predators” when the statistics show that only about a 1/30 milliom chance of this kind of crime occuring.
May 14th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
I agree a search should be carried out in Spain in the same way it was in Portugal. Searches should be made at all exits from Portugal and Spain all ferries, trains, roads - anywhere. I think also that checks should be made when entering Britain. If the people are British is it likely that they will try and return to Britain at some point?
We need to find Maddie we cannot just let her go, she is a little girl who has been snatched from her loving family. I just hope whoever has her is taking good care of her and will let her go soon. Even if they were to just leave her at a local hospital, church, police station, supermarket even just so that she could be found safe and well.
Please let her go home where she belongs.
May 14th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I find it very difficult to understand what the Usual Suspect is trying to say. He says that the press are exploiting the situation to profit as much as they can before the next big story comes along. But, at the same time, hopes that the press will keep the story ‘live’ for as long as possible.
Given the fact that the Portuguese Police are reluctant to divulge any information regarding their enquiries, then apart from concentrating on the parent’s anguish, there isn’t a whole hell of a lot to report on.
The papers ARE keeping the public focus on the case and that, for me, is the main thing. How they do it is unimportant.
Don’t lay all the responsibility at the feet of the press because when they move on to the next big story so, predictably, will we.
May 14th, 2007 at 6:56 pm
i am thinking off the family all the time it must be fell to go though that i hope she will be home safe the her family very soon imy throughts are with you all.
May 14th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Why is this nobody getting so much column-space? The parents are nobodies, the child is a nobody, the family is nothing. What exactly is so special about THIS child? What about all the other ones that go missing? What about the SICKENING amount of money donated to the parents in only a week? They dont DESERVE that money. This entire episode is sickening.
We all know that the parents did it, anyway.
May 14th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Does GM stand for Genetically Modified…or what?
May 14th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Whatever. I’m sure her parents are enjoying the free holiday they’re getting. Nice to know they’re not going to leave, no matter what. Keep that free money flowing, people!
Wow, murdering your own daughter has never been so profitable.
May 14th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
GM’s comments are pretty harsh, but to be honest, I think they’re true. Everyone I talk to is pretty much tired of hearing about this girl.
May 14th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
God help us all…
May 14th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
well i think gm has no right to say wt they are they do not kno the family or the little girl and how they are feeling it sounds like a big joke to them. which is sick wot would u do if it was your family.
May 14th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
every1 plz hlp 2 find this girl. sum ppl think its all a big joke but imagine how thyre family r feelin at this difficult time.so plz keep ure eyes peeled. : )
May 14th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
madeline plz cum home
May 14th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
little maddie l hope you will come back from the over people i wish you can come back to your mummy and daddy and brother and sister.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
maddy stay strong everyone will do thr best to get u back to ur mummy and daddy we need u to hold on just a bit longer little one! mum and dad we hope u get ur little girl back use dont deserve to be put thru this! wee all wish u guys the best and we hope the best for maddy. everyone thr is a band on bebo wed like everyone possible to show they care and join this band leaving the love aswell. http://wee-maddy.bebo.com(copy and paste that into ur internet search box thanks)
May 14th, 2007 at 11:34 pm
GM… you are a sad and sick individual. There is NOTHING to suggest the parents had anything to do with this. You are pathetic.
Can any parent say that they’ve NEVER given an abductor the chance to snatch your child? Even if you’ve never left your child alone in a hotel room, have you never popped into a shop while leaving a child in the car for 5 minutes? Have you never allowed your child to ride their bike in the street, or play in the garden? Have you watched their every moment while they’ve been outside just simply ‘being kids?’ Have you never allowed them over at a neighbour’s house or at a kids party where you’ve allowed other parents you barely know to supervise them? Have you never been distracted checking out the merchandise in a shop while unaware your toddler has wandered off to the next aisle?
None of us are perfect, even those who might think you are.
May 14th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Wtf ban that bastard gm for such a vile comment
May 15th, 2007 at 1:14 am
I agree with you Alex. GM, Do you have children? God I only hope not, and you Diane for that matter!! Everyone I personally speak to has huge sympathy for the family.
If you’re so bloody sick of hearing about it Diane, piss off away from websites such as this. You say you’re sick of hearing about it, yet you continue an interest.
People like YOU make me sick. You selfish pair!!!! How dare you!!!!
I only hope and pray that somehow, this innocent, beautiful little girl will arrive back in her parents arms safe and sound, and that the absolute bastards who have taken her will rot in hell along with you 2 for your foul, disgusting opinions…..
May 15th, 2007 at 4:19 am
Anorak, I urge you to check into GM and find out who this person is. Having reread his/her comment above, I feel the anger and psychotic nature of the comments require investigating. Why would a person post such language such as Madeleine is “a nobody, the parents are nobodies, the family is nothing?” Why say the amount of money is “sickening” and that the family “don’t deserve” the money?????
I find these comments hugely suspicious! Please act on them.