Madeleine McCann: Press Complaints, Tony Parsons And No News
MADDIE WATCH - Anorak’s at-a-glance guide to press coverage of Madeleine McCann
Madeleine McCann is missing…from the papers.
There’s no sign of the child whose name and face are linked to every hack’s keyboard (press f9).
But Madeleine is mentioned in the Press Complaints Commission: Annual Report for 2007.
In 2007, the PCC received 4,340 complaints in total, a 70 per cent increase on the 1996 figure. One column alone in The Mirror about Madeleine McCann attracted 485 complaints.
Might these complaints have been triggered by the Mirror’s mawkish positioning of a yellow ribbon in its cover, which has now gone the way of its WMD counter?
More likely it’s the October 29, 2007 article by Tony Parsons. In “Oh, up yours, Senor”, Parsons invited the Portuguese ambassador to “shut your stupid sardine-munching mouth”. We should not be too hard on Parsons who has experienced the sting of having a child go missing when his own daughter dispapeared from view for, well, it felt like seconds.
“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”.
Incidentally, in 2001 the Mirror’s travel writers told readers: “If your image of Portugal is sardines, golf courses and Benfica football club, then it’s time you paid the place another visit.”
Parsons is one of the few hacks not to have braved the stench of raw fish and reported live from Praia da Luz. Go to Portugal and find the golf courses gone, children gone, the football club in ruins and the locals spraying flakes of sardine skin at you when they talk.
A lot can happen in a few years…
But Madeleine McCann is still missing…
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:15 am
1st!!!!!!!!
Bye
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
Surely I am not the first?
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:16 am
No mr b, that would be me
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am
so much room in here!
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:19 am
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:23 am
I am re reading
I know “some” who have been treated with “special monitoring” since their return last sept/2007
No new news but the old news may revive the debate…..just when M&A were having a bit of a break
“He has until tomorrow to approve a number of police requests in relation to the investigation, which according to reports may include new searches and permission to put the McCanns under closer surveillance”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1563556/McCann-home-%27may-hold-vital-information%27.html
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
Is there any news in PJ papers that someone can translate for us??
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:29 am
morning jo
cant stay, have to go to work
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 am
What a pity that the complaints to the PCC were not about the appalling lack of decent investigative journalism associated with this case, complaints about the lack of professional detachment expected of a half decent journalist, and complaints about the way in which the allegedly independent press allowed itself to be dictated to by a government appointed spokesman.
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
Lets fill in the room
Although,itsd not funny,yes, Madeleine is missing twice,now.
Her life has been stolen and as if it was not enough,the pair have decided DEMANDED to be out of the mediatic spotlife
Now,the media are going to demand why and the speculation will start again.
Why this silence?
-is it only because life has become “unsustainable”,says Gerry?
-or is it because some other “stuff” is being “played” behind the screen of the secrecy of justice and why?
If EAW are requested by the prosecutor (which means the PJ/prosecutor have enough evidence to charge them) it will take 40 days to get an answer.
If this is whats happening,does it mean this is really why they have “restrictions”,when what they really mean :if we are going to be charged,why go through a reconstruction?
Time will tell
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 am
WHY are the mccanns COMPLAINING about the media THEY have sued?
http://www.mccannfiles.com/id79.html
May 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 am
What is the real Madeleine “s story?
The one read/listened in the media?
Al Jazeera”s report is very interesting
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
Jee I have only just read Goncalo Amarals letter dated 22 April on the mccannfiles site. Interesting…
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:16 am
13
Tracy
I was just reading the portuguese newspaper when my pc blacked out
Bear with me a mo
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Jo
Thank you!!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:27 am
“Incidentally, in 2001 the Mirror’s travel writers told readers: “If your image of Portugal is sardines, golf courses and Benfica football club, then it’s time you paid the place another visit.”
Why ? To confirm it ?
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 am
sardines are awful. and that’s as well as the tin being lethal.
just thought i’d point it out.
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
Tracy
There is absolutely no news.
You can find the info in the mccannsfiles .
The PJ is simply waiting for the T9 to “move it” and go for the reconstruction.
This has been approved by the home office and it was one of the requests made by the PJ in the rogatory letters.
They MUST meet this requisite.If not….lets see what will come up in the news….EAW?To do this the prosecutor must have very “serious” reasons….but it also involves an other days of bureaucratic delay…
We are the 22nd.Initially the date for ther recon is the 29th but it is unlikely to happen….unless this weekend brings official announcement.
Meanwhile,lets kill time on anorak (?)
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 am
I am off now.
Too much to do
Bye
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
………. its definately a he!
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Garth
Are you wondering about your manhood?
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:01 am
#
22
brandon flours Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 9:59 am
Garth
Are you wondering about your manhood?
—————–
Well I must admit I did need to stop and check for a moment. Everythings in order. imo
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Thanks Jo - this whole thing is getting rather frustrating to say the least…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
17 Firestar
“sardines are awful. and that’s as well as the tin being lethal”.
Sardines in tin is like salmon in tins, a pale image of the real thing. Sardines are absolutely delicious fresh, and well prepared, which isn’t difficult at all. They are also excellent for your health.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Just peeped in before I go and I posted this article to keep you safe from complete boredom and amphibians sardines ……and back to the mccanns and the medias
Bye,bye,bye……
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/may/22/dailyexpress.pressandpublishing
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:08 am
Garth
xxxxxxx
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Sardine sandwiches remind me of Basil brush for some reason, and Bruce Forsythe.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:09 am
Peter Mac 9
“What a pity that the complaints to the PCC were not about the appalling lack of decent investigative journalism associated with this case, complaints about the lack of professional detachment expected of a half decent journalist, and complaints about the way in which the allegedly independent press allowed itself to be dictated to by a government appointed spokesman.”
—-
I completely agree. What puzzled me most is that some journalists didn’t even make an attempt to appear detached. They were not investigating, not reporting. They were campaigning.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:13 am
Morning
http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj15/just_meme5/terryuo1.jpg
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Hi Just_me
Thats wicked
I was so glad git face ronaldo missed! I thought he was going to pick up the ball and his gloves and go home for his tea