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
Comments
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March 16th, 2008 at 10:31 pm
I think we can assume the bone-bag was a nothing of interest, otherwise it would have been all over the news by now.
I thought the small bones in the picture didn’t even look like those of a mammal, let alone a human being. They look like the remains of a horseshoe crab.
March 16th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Has there been any accurate info on the bones found? I read they confirmed they are from an animal, not Madeleine? Just wondering!!
March 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
594
Denzylle Says:
‘I think I succeeded in castrating SpongeBobbit this evening.
I definitely won the battle’
- Naw sadly, you have no appreciation of irony. But I think you enjoyed the spanking
March 16th, 2008 at 7:30 am
623 star
is there any new news on the bones?
i think she’s still carrying cuddlecat around
March 16th, 2008 at 5:06 am
Gandolf
Whilst it is nice to see ‘God’s own language’ appearing on Anorak, the rule about posting in ‘non-english’ languages applies equally to gaelic.
I have replaced the gaelic text in your posts with english translations.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:58 am
is there any new news on the bones?
March 16th, 2008 at 4:34 am
604 - coco Says:
Mods and Admin!!!!!!
Help! Help! Help! Is it possible for you to warn a certain poster that they are behaving in a way that would be considered indecent and threatening?
++++++++++++++++++++++++
The phrase ‘pot calling the kettle black’ springs to mind !
March 16th, 2008 at 4:30 am
coco, and that from someone with the name of a clown, how apt……..PMSL.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:27 am
DuncanR: I have not sought to advise mods of anything if you read everything that I have ever written.
You have not been watching closely enough to think that you need to warn me about foul language or anything else. Gandolf was rubbishing others on here and posting ridiculous things to me so I used a retaliation tactic in the hope that he would go away.
You have just played right into the hands of the pea-brained half-wit by trying to pull me over the coals. Tut tut
March 16th, 2008 at 4:21 am
Gandolf: I have obviously struck a nerve and everybody is well aware of it. You are an utter arse-wipe and I do not like the way you speak to people on Anorak which is why I posted in the first place.
Apparently, you have always been obnoxious on here and are seriously disliked.
How weird you must be not too notice what a pathetic weed you are. Please watch other humans around you and how you have no friends. You sad dim-witted Baldrickesque creature.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Coco
Have been ‘watching’ the interchange of views between Gandolf and yourself.
Please curb the ‘aggressive’ tone of your comments and the use of ‘foul’ language.
Please also do not seek to advise Admin/Mods who should or should not post to Anorak.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:19 am
Carmen and Marie Mc Nichols————one and the same———-anyone else think so??? Same style of writing and use of words.
March 16th, 2008 at 4:06 am
I do find that people , who like to boast about their “just flown in from”, are usually just that cloud dwellers.
I am fortunate enough to have a post, which pays my salary, when I am off injured, I am able to support my children very well, without the interference or fantasy ramblings of cloud dwellers, such as coco the clown.
[gaelic text removed - dr]
When we are seeking gold,
let us be seeking gold;
And when we are seeking bait
let us be seeking bait. (english translation - dr)
March 16th, 2008 at 3:46 am
608 val
It reminds me of the German girl who was held captive for a while, and abused. She had every opportunity to leave apparently, but was unable too because the abductor had got had “mind”. Is this what happened to Shannon….she was unable to call for help or leave the flat, or was she shunted around the neighborhood. The man on suspicion of abduction knew her alright as he apparently had her on his knee bouncing her up and down, at a funeral. Someone saw it, and thought it odd!! Maybe the mother told the police details.
Do hope this child is unscathed though. Don’t like the report that she was held in protection after medical examination.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Val: It is too uninteresting to try and discuss. Gandolf posts in such a way that he offends many people including myself. Given his poor education he is shown much mercy from many posters but takes space up.
Gandolf: Get a job!!!! You are not fit to wipe my dog’s arse on and your ability to communicate sees your destiny in cyber friends only! I promise!
March 16th, 2008 at 3:37 am
coco, your grasp of the situation with regards to Anorak really says it all, your knowledge knows no beginning therefore it has no end, you will improve, but I really can’t say when, if ever.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:36 am
610 Coco
What”s with all this aggression, no need for it you know.
I”m off to bed all, Goodnight.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:31 am
Gandolf!
I am sorry to inform you that ANORAK is not a f*cking kitchen! You balloon! So go and find a kitchen.
You remind me of people I once had to meet at psychic fair many years ago. The type who wear friendship bracelets,, beads on a choker and hideous clothing that stinks of sweat and patchouli. The type who wanders about trying to look ‘different’ and mysterious - but everybody does wanker signals behind their backs.
Talking bollocks about subjects you have read a few pages of make you look even more dim-witted than I experienced last week. How you have not been barred from here I don’t know.
Unless - You are allowed to keep posting because you are one of the only people who isn’t anti. You are a complete Billy-No-Mates! Get a f*cking job.
The kind of people who sign on the dole and let the State pay for their kids upkeep.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:25 am
Wassup Ian nobody biting to your one horse argument, never mind it will soon be dawn and you can climb back into your box.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:19 am
601 Gandolf
Just read it. What puzzles me is Shannon”s mother saying the other day that she was
convinced Shannon was alive and being held by someone the family knew. If that
was the case, why didn”t she either tell the Police or try to find out who it could be
herself.
There must have been a time when this guy left Shannon alone to buy groceries, so
couldn”t she raise the alarm while he was gone, and when the Police raided the house, why not scream, he couldn”t have hurt her if he was the other side of the Bed.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:19 am
You anti - police too?
hmmm - ever been convicted sledgie?
March 16th, 2008 at 3:18 am
591
Gandolf
You a mate of Corners?
He seems to use odd words to describe Madeleine.
Your McCann support is unsavioury.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:17 am
coco, if you can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen,must be jet lag with all your international jet setting.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:10 am
Mods and Admin!!!!!!
Help! Help! Help! Is it possible for you to warn a certain poster that they are behaving in a way that would be considered indecent and threatening?
I do not like the fact that he talks bolocks to other posters who feel compelled to answer him and insodoing use up valuable space on the wonderful pages of ANORAK . I can only come on her once or twice a week and he spoils what has been anenjoyable read for some 2 years.
Thanks in advance.
March 16th, 2008 at 3:07 am
587 Denzylle
See what I mean nobody knows who they are talking to!!!!! With a name like denzylle
I assumed it was a variation of Denzel………..as in Denzel Washington.
That Spongebob is a case, where did he come from, I ignored his posts and he finally
got the message.
Hope he picks on someone else next time, or better still, there is no next time.!!!!!!
March 16th, 2008 at 3:06 am
http://news.google.co.uk/news?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZEZ_en-GBGB264GB264&q=yorkshire+police&um=1&sa=X&oi=news_result&resnum=1&ct=title
March 16th, 2008 at 3:03 am
coco, remember what happend the last time you let your mouth run away with you!!
Val, yorkshire cops sinking into deep shit.
March 16th, 2008 at 2:59 am
Gandolf
That Guardian page is unobtainable, what”s it about?
March 16th, 2008 at 2:58 am
Hi Guys! Just noticed that my half-wit handle caught on pretty quickly!
Can we say dick-wipe instead now because half-wit sound too innocuous for the arse-wipey types we are having to deal with at present. I prefer to debate the issue in hand rather than watch people talking to each other - Why don’t they go to a chat-site?
March 16th, 2008 at 2:57 am
591 Gandolf
Well, if they LEFT to go back to Portugal on Friday, can we assume the poster who
said they had arrived at Birmingham airport last week was correct? In which case does
that mean the interviews have taken place?
You obviously used your pseudonym because you have an interest in Wizards and
Celtic witchcraft, even to quoting gaelic……..that means you know 100% more than
me!!!
March 16th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Val: The PJ have already ensured that the Clan were close to their phones at all times and could be contacted via the same at any point up to, including and after when MM went missing - therefore they were all allegedly in control of their cell-phones at all times.
PJ already here and doing the - ‘ Let’s give it the once over in case the Pinochet guy spots another loop-hole in the yarn that is spinning’, scenario