Comments on: Why aren’t we angry about Harry cover-up? http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459 Charlie Beckett comments on international journalism, media and society Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:23:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Tina Louise http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459&cpage=1#comment-5430 Tina Louise Sun, 02 Mar 2008 23:12:21 +0000 http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459#comment-5430 Harry's honour would have been something to respect if he had sacrificed his desire for individual goals - for the sake of the troops, the freedom of the press and the uproar his stubborn determination has caused. He is who he is and those circumstances of his life make certain life choices impossible - each person experiences this at some level and simply has to get over it. His insistence on seeing active duty slices further divisions into a divided nation, demands pacts of secrecy from a press I cannot trust and has risked the lives of those he claimed to have served equally alongside. Shame on you Harry, shame on you. Harry’s honour would have been something to respect if he had sacrificed his desire for individual goals – for the sake of the troops, the freedom of the press and the uproar his stubborn determination has caused.

He is who he is and those circumstances of his life make certain life choices impossible – each person experiences this at some level and simply has to get over it. His insistence on seeing active duty slices further divisions into a divided nation, demands pacts of secrecy from a press I cannot trust and has risked the lives of those he claimed to have served equally alongside.

Shame on you Harry, shame on you.

]]> By: Dr John Wilkes http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459&cpage=1#comment-5427 Dr John Wilkes Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:15:54 +0000 http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459#comment-5427 There is no issue worth discussing about the voluntary press embargo on saying that Prince Harry was in Afghanistan. It's simply a matter of common sense. He has signed on - a worthwhile thing to do - and is as much entitled to a career as the next person. His activities are a matter of legitimate public interest because of his position, but that does not entitle the media to greatly increase his chances of being killed or captured. Nothing at all would have been lost if this story had come out in a few week's time, which it would have done anyway. There has never been any question of censorship. If there is anything fishy there, its a red herring. Journalists sometimes mistake the 'right to know', which is an important element in any democracy, for the 'right' to make money and advance their professional careers by getting the story in first, no matter what the cost to others. The public in general loathes the British media, and with good cause, but on this occasion the media acted rightly. Drudge may be seen as American friendly fire: we all know what that does. There is also a strong 'royal-bashing' element, usually from people whose laundry list would be much longer if they ever exposed themselves to any danger beyond being overcharged at the Groucho Club. The really interesting story now is where New Idea got its information from, and why nobody noticed. There is no issue worth discussing about the voluntary press embargo on saying that Prince Harry was in Afghanistan. It’s simply a matter of common sense. He has signed on – a worthwhile thing to do – and is as much entitled to a career as the next person. His activities are a matter of legitimate public interest because of his position, but that does not entitle the media to greatly increase his chances of being killed or captured. Nothing at all would have been lost if this story had come out in a few week’s time, which it would have done anyway. There has never been any question of censorship. If there is anything fishy there, its a red herring.

Journalists sometimes mistake the ‘right to know’, which is an important element in any democracy, for the ‘right’ to make money and advance their professional careers by getting the story in first, no matter what the cost to others. The public in general loathes the British media, and with good cause, but on this occasion the media acted rightly. Drudge may be seen as American friendly fire: we all know what that does. There is also a strong ‘royal-bashing’ element, usually from people whose laundry list would be much longer if they ever exposed themselves to any danger beyond being overcharged at the Groucho Club.

The really interesting story now is where New Idea got its information from, and why nobody noticed.

]]> By: Russ http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459&cpage=1#comment-5416 Russ Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:04:30 +0000 http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459#comment-5416 Paris Hilton has secretly been serving in the tribal areas of Pakistan since December. -Russ Paris Hilton has secretly been serving in the tribal areas of Pakistan since December.

-Russ

]]> By: Tobias Escher http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459&cpage=1#comment-5411 Tobias Escher Sat, 01 Mar 2008 14:23:15 +0000 http://www.charliebeckett.org/?p=459#comment-5411 Is it not quite plain that the media did jump on the deal because in exchange they became some exclusive stories? As the BBC News editor Jon Williams states on his blog: "In return, we'd get access to him before, during and after his time in Afghanistan. [...] So, for the past ten weeks, the BBC, ITV and Sky News have been filming with Prince Harry - the first time we've been up close and personal with him." (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/02/news_blackout.html) Looking at the comments to Jon's blog it also seems to have worked quite well, playing the patriotic card of protecting the country and its forces... Is it not quite plain that the media did jump on the deal because in exchange they became some exclusive stories? As the BBC News editor Jon Williams states on his blog:
“In return, we’d get access to him before, during and after his time in Afghanistan. [...] So, for the past ten weeks, the BBC, ITV and Sky News have been filming with Prince Harry – the first time we’ve been up close and personal with him.” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2008/02/news_blackout.html)

Looking at the comments to Jon’s blog it also seems to have worked quite well, playing the patriotic card of protecting the country and its forces…

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