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…
Posted: 22nd, May 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (346) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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May 23rd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Scarlett your best guess for “playground man” is that he is a ‘janitor’ of some kind…..what is it about this man that would remotely hint that he could be a caretaker of some kind? I’m very interested in your reasoning.
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:48 am
Lyn 341
Those photos have been the subject of much debate. As I recall, for Photo 1 Stevo tried and tried to identify “playground man” and the girl in the foreground, with no luck. It is not thought that the girl is a T7 daughter. The best guess for “playground man” is he is a janitor or similar. As I understand it, the man on the beach photo is Michael Wright, from Skipton, husband of Kate’s cousin or somesuch. I don’t think Michael Wright is “playground man.”
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
345 Maravilha
News at last but I think the Tapas 9 will be less inclined to accept the invitation.
If they don’t go they will be accused of gross negligence and a possible maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
If they go it is unlikely to result in a less serious accusation.
———————
Ultimatum for the McCanns 24horas, by Carlos Tomás
23/05/2008 (Translated by ‘Li’ for mccannfiles)
‘Clarence Mitchell admitted to 24horas that the reconstruction will not take place on the 29th due to the doubts of the friends.
Kate and Gerry as 24horas has already reported should be accused of gross negligence with the maximum penalty ten years jail.
“There has not been any kind of cooperation with the authorities from their part. What is strange for parents that are constantly and publicly claiming that they want to find their missing daughter. It is an unusual behaviour. Any father or mother that had lost a child would have all interest in cooperating with the authorities. The truth is from the McCann’s part that help does not exist. What they say is that they are willing to come to Portugal but only under certain conditions”, explained to 24horas a source from Portimão’s Court.
According to the same source, after the suggestion of the Public Prosecutor to make the reconstruction on the 15th and 16th of May, a new date was suggested: the 29th of May. However less than a week from that day the Portuguese authorities are still empty handed. Neither the parents nor their friends gave any signal of life.
Enough evidence
“We have the conviction that the parents participated in the concealment of the body’s girl and that she is dead. Although the existing evidences are not enough to accuse them of homicide. But we have more than enough evidence to accuse them of negligence. They know that and they don’t return to Portugal probably because they are afraid of being arrested”, said another judicial responsible connected to the investigation.’
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Please see Mccannfiles wit news frfom 24 horas.
Public Prosecuter will accuse McCanns of gross negligence.
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Lyn, how can I find Justice for Maddy?
May 23rd, 2008 at 8:14 am
6 days
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 am
Where’s Daisy? She was always good for the odd hours
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:47 am
Have I been banned?
M and A
Not at all, we just pulled your post with your details on from public view
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:54 am
Have you all gone to bed?
It’s easy moderating posters who are asleep.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:26 am
66
Saul Says:
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Happy Birthday Duncan.
http://winnie-the-pooh.ru/stories/english/birthday/
———————–
Well Duncan, another year gone bye, I know you have other major things on your mind.
But this is as true today as it was when it was first written.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 am
Goodnight all, until tomorrow and what it brings.
Take care..x
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:47 am
Oops, I lied!
Didn’t turn off.
Have TWO Word doc’s : one with the expressions and one with the smiley’s and how to insert pics [though that doesn't always work].
Stop fighting!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:45 am
328
yampster
Shoot, I shouldn’t have been finishing that little game… nor sneaking back. Today’s work is almost done!
329
Ciara
Nite nite Ciara. Fair already had some friends over here, but don’t forget the real life friends and family, they’re much more important.
You have some friends too. Keep it that way!
Nite nite again.
**********
Must turn off the d#$%d thing! NOW!
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 am
332
Fair
Goodnight..
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 am
329 ciara
Alone? Not me.
Contented. Yes thank you.
But if makes you happy then yes. I am so so alone & misserable.
Ok?
Goodbye.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:42 am
Oh, for the days when you knew who was posting.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:39 am
329
Ciara
Only one surely. By tomorrow we will all be just the one multiposter
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 am
325
Fair
Goodnight. You can go to sleep alone but contented. You have three friends now.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:36 am
326
Totje
Our work here is done. Good night Jo-beth-jim-bob
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:34 am
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:29 am
322
yampster
I feel like Heintje Davids now, I forgot to note that expression it was mentioned on Anorak, I do recall that, it’s like people who say they quit [singing] and come back, and quit and come back….
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Frank Sinatra ??
[duncanr]
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
319 Patch
Nite nite (& good luck with any late comers!)
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
316
Saul
Very nice indeed
Good night,Saul
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:27 am
319
patch
103% right!
*****
Sleep well all.
Nite nite
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
302
Totje
In fact when her dear old widowed mother phones her from Brugge, as she does every morning, I will try it on her
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
315
Ciara
tut tut things take time.
Justice is slow and very political in this case
Going to sleep now
Good night
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:26 am
Time for me to get some sleep too.
Hint for yampster…..
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-LWl87C-8
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:25 am
Fair
Goodnight, Fair. Not you who needs the medication. And not you with the sad fantasy life.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 am
314
yampster
Oh dear…..
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 am
313
Fair
So do you [good memory and seem to be aware of a lot, like some 'patterns'].
Sleep well. Don’t worry.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:19 am
312
jo Says:
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:09 am
311
Saul
Can I ask what you were doing there?
————-
Watching the tall ships