The role of the press in the Raoul Moat case

Jon · 10-07-10, 06:07 PM

After seeing a few articles and news flashes yesterday evening, and during the week I do wonder if the national press got a bit carried away with their coverage.

I do think it deserved air time over the weekend as any murder/attempted murder should be reported accurately and fairly, and the fact the suspect was at large and the police had limited intelligence as to the suspects location (well thats what was said, what they knew and what they said may well be different)

But with letters written by him then being published by national newspapers, over numerous days, I would assume to make more sales, is that not taking things to far? Is it really worthy of national news every evening when the police had narrowed him down to a certain area? Any communication that was needed to be made to locals could have easily be done via door to door police/phone/local news & radio.

As for last night, I was out visiting some friends for food and drink so missed what was taking place on the TV but as I was leaving BBC News seamed to be preparing for a live broadcast all evening? Again was this really needed?

What has angered me the most is seeing one article where the reporter had "crept" up behind the suspect to overhear the conservation of the police along the lines of "there is no one behind you", what if the reporter had made a noise, causing the suspect to then shoot himself? What is the point of that reporting? were some reporters/photographers hoping to get the "kill shot" to then get a small dose of increased fame?

To put things into some form of perspective, did the investigations into the recent Murder at a school get the same attention - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10577362.stm

(please try to keep any replies focused on the press/police response/etc rather than the suspects motives/actions, Raoul Moat will have some form of family and it is only fair to show respect for their sake.)

arcticfox · 10-07-10, 07:35 PM

What I found incredible was the fact that the national media were updating every movement the police were making despite the fact that the man they were trying to find could have easily been able to access TV or radio to also use this information to his advantage. Surely in occasions like this, certain information should be banned from being made public.

e.g. if this guy hears on the radio that they are closing in on him and name the village where they are hunting him, wouldn't that then lead to the possibility of him either taking hostages, killing more people and being ready for the police whereas a partial news blackout then gives an element of surprise to the police.

who would be held responsible if the media spooked this guy and he then went on a massacre?

**the_icks** · 10-07-10, 07:42 PM

That poor woman last night just wanted to talk to her mother and the reporter grabbed her phone almost as soon as she got through!!

Lisaaaargh · 10-07-10, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_icks

That poor woman last night just wanted to talk to her mother and the reporter grabbed her phone almost as soon as she got through!!

that was SHOCKING! And very dissapointingly, it was the BBC

This was the aim of my previous thread posted in this forum but tbh, i was in work while I was typing so it was a little short.

The media coverage of this case has been so intense that the police actually asked that they hold back on their reporting on one point.

Last night was a shocking example. There really wasn't any need for rolling coverage of a situation that was only going to really have one outcome. It was in terrible, terrible taste playing the sound of the gunshot and the screams.

And who's dreadful decision was it to broadcast Gazza's drunken rambling phone call?!

Surely the only ocassion where rolling coverage is totally necessary is where a large proportion of the country is at risk or it's a fast moving story? A stand off in a little village in the North hardly warrants this. I think this is a great example of why local radio is a fantastic resource. I know the guys at Radio Newcastle kept with rolling updates because Rothbury is in their patch. Outside of that, there's really no need.

I don wonder if the increase in popularity of social media is to blame though? It helps with up-to-the-minute reporting and whips up mass excitement about things that would otherwise be reported and forgotten about.

I do actually work in the media so I'm probably as bad as the very people I'm criticising

**xploit** · 10-07-10, 08:07 PM

Using the media is like a double edged sword - for example the way they asked for info if the public saw his car and letting everyone know his registration number, it is a way of many people looking for the same man, but once he knew they were looking for the car he justr dumped it, it could easily have been possible for him to steal another car and use that to get away from the area but he didnt, its an advantage and disadvantage at the same time...

TheDoctor · 10-07-10, 08:36 PM

Well at one point last night, there was talk of a 10 Mile Media Cordon.
Meaning the Media werent allowed within 10 Miles of Rothbury.

Lisaaaargh · 10-07-10, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDoctor

Well at one point last night, there was talk of a 10 Mile Media Cordon.
Meaning the Media werent allowed within 10 Miles of Rothbury.

I didn't see that being enforced though

Cruelworld · 10-07-10, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisaaaargh

I didn't see that being enforced though

I believe they enforced a 10 mile air media exclusion zone and were talking about extending it to the ground.

TheDoctor · 10-07-10, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisaaaargh

I didn't see that being enforced though

Well at one point last night, there was talk of a 10 Mile Media Cordon.
Meaning the Media werent allowed within 10 Miles of Rothbury.

Lisaaaargh · 10-07-10, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDoctor

Well at one point last night, there was talk of a 10 Mile Media Cordon.
Meaning the Media werent allowed within 10 Miles of Rothbury.

I know but what I meant was I don't think anyone actually took any notice.

TheDoctor · 10-07-10, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisaaaargh

I know but what I meant was I don't think anyone actually took any notice.

It was just Speculation, they did not enforce the 10 mile cordon on the ground.
Just the air.

Lisaaaargh · 10-07-10, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruelworld

I believe they enforced a 10 mile air media exclusion zone and were talking about extending it to the ground.

That is correct! They definitely asked for it to be enforced on the ground too

Lisaaaargh · 10-07-10, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDoctor

It was just Speculation, they did not enforce the 10 mile cordon on the ground.
Just the air.

Ah, I see. Sky news reported it slightly differently!

-null- · 10-07-10, 09:44 PM

Anyone see the news tonight. They said they think the way the media were reporting things made Moat widen his threat to the general public.

GaryD · 10-07-10, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -null-

Anyone see the news tonight. They said they think the way the media were reporting things made Moat widen his threat to the general public.

police made that up about him saying he was going to target the general public they stated that he said this when they realised the public were helping him keep clear of it all. They only did this so theyd get scared and stop helping him. He had no intentions of killing the public it was only police he wanted. He broke into an old lady house night b4 he got caught and stole her food and she was in and saw him and he just looked at her then ****ed off. He would of killed her there and then if that was the case because she would have been a witness to say it was him. They shud of let the geordie legend down there with his fishing rod he would of stopped him from shooting himself. If there was one person who would make me put that gun down it would be gazza

-null- · 10-07-10, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryD

police made that up about him saying he was going to target the general public they stated that he said this when they realised the public were helping him keep clear of it all. They only did this so theyd get scared and stop helping him. He had no intentions of killing the public it was only police he wanted. He broke into an old lady house night b4 he got caught and stole her food and she was in and saw him and he just looked at her then ****ed off. He would of killed her there and then if that was the case because she would have been a witness to say it was him. They shud of let the geordie legend down there with his fishing rod he would of stopped him from shooting himself. If there was one person who would make me put that gun down it would be gazza

I knew it. Moat was right, the police were out to get him.

See, just because your paranoid doesn't mean your wrong.

bmh16 · 11-07-10, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryD

police made that up about him saying he was going to target the general public they stated that he said this when they realised the public were helping him keep clear of it all. They only did this so theyd get scared and stop helping him. He had no intentions of killing the public it was only police he wanted. He broke into an old lady house night b4 he got caught and stole her food and she was in and saw him and he just looked at her then ****ed off. He would of killed her there and then if that was the case because she would have been a witness to say it was him. They shud of let the geordie legend down there with his fishing rod he would of stopped him from shooting himself. If there was one person who would make me put that gun down it would be gazza

err, what difference does it make? He was looking to shoot innocent people from the police force and stealing from people.

GaryD · 11-07-10, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmh16

err, what difference does it make? He was looking to shoot innocent people from the police force and stealing from people.

Well i am just stating that he had no intentions of killing the public only the police. Not saying what he done was right but he should not of been let go from prison the prison officers no what he was like when he was in his final week, so he shud of got help then no one would of died

Fridge03 · 12-07-10, 09:51 AM

The media always have and always will be the same. For the sake of their job, they cannot take any notice of morals, feelings or ethics it seems. It does need to be changed, but it won't be.

I also think the reason why it got such news covereage even though it was contained to a relatively small area was due to the killing a few weeks before in Cumbria, so rightly or wrongly, people wanted to know about this one as well.

Lisaaaargh · 12-07-10, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaryD

Well i am just stating that he had no intentions of killing the public only the police. Not saying what he done was right but he should not of been let go from prison the prison officers no what he was like when he was in his final week, so he shud of got help then no one would of died

Not strictly true. He had more or less said that the media wound him up and because of that, he wouldn't rule out killing innocent people. The media were, quite obviously, asked not to report the specifics of this but there is a recording that, I'm sure, in time, will become available.

10-07-10, 06:07 PM	#1
Jon MJ lady with maracas Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Leeds Posts: 12,799	The role of the press in the Raoul Moat case After seeing a few articles and news flashes yesterday evening, and during the week I do wonder if the national press got a bit carried away with their coverage. I do think it deserved air time over the weekend as any murder/attempted murder should be reported accurately and fairly, and the fact the suspect was at large and the police had limited intelligence as to the suspects location (well thats what was said, what they knew and what they said may well be different) But with letters written by him then being published by national newspapers, over numerous days, I would assume to make more sales, is that not taking things to far? Is it really worthy of national news every evening when the police had narrowed him down to a certain area? Any communication that was needed to be made to locals could have easily be done via door to door police/phone/local news & radio. As for last night, I was out visiting some friends for food and drink so missed what was taking place on the TV but as I was leaving BBC News seamed to be preparing for a live broadcast all evening? Again was this really needed? What has angered me the most is seeing one article where the reporter had "crept" up behind the suspect to overhear the conservation of the police along the lines of "there is no one behind you", what if the reporter had made a noise, causing the suspect to then shoot himself? What is the point of that reporting? were some reporters/photographers hoping to get the "kill shot" to then get a small dose of increased fame? To put things into some form of perspective, did the investigations into the recent Murder at a school get the same attention - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10577362.stm (please try to keep any replies focused on the press/police response/etc rather than the suspects motives/actions, Raoul Moat will have some form of family and it is only fair to show respect for their sake.) __________________ Last edited by Jon; 10-07-10 at 06:09 PM..

10-07-10, 07:35 PM	#2
arcticfox blah blah blah Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Here Posts: 17,866	What I found incredible was the fact that the national media were updating every movement the police were making despite the fact that the man they were trying to find could have easily been able to access TV or radio to also use this information to his advantage. Surely in occasions like this, certain information should be banned from being made public. e.g. if this guy hears on the radio that they are closing in on him and name the village where they are hunting him, wouldn't that then lead to the possibility of him either taking hostages, killing more people and being ready for the police whereas a partial news blackout then gives an element of surprise to the police. who would be held responsible if the media spooked this guy and he then went on a massacre? __________________ Free Nintendo 3DS Free iPhone 4 Free PS3 Free iPad 2

10-07-10, 08:07 PM	#5
xploit Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bristol Posts: 3,222	Using the media is like a double edged sword - for example the way they asked for info if the public saw his car and letting everyone know his registration number, it is a way of many people looking for the same man, but once he knew they were looking for the car he justr dumped it, it could easily have been possible for him to steal another car and use that to get away from the area but he didnt, its an advantage and disadvantage at the same time... __________________ New site launched: my FREE rewards.co - please check it out and let me know what you think! Martin Evans • free iPhone 5 • Follow me on Twitter: @martinevansnet • @xploituk I am currently looking to start a JV - PM me with your skills and proof if interested... Spoiler

10-07-10, 08:36 PM	#6
TheDoctor Mini Mac Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London Posts: 3,788	Well at one point last night, there was talk of a 10 Mile Media Cordon. Meaning the Media werent allowed within 10 Miles of Rothbury. __________________

10-07-10, 07:42 PM	#3
the_icks Mr Baldy Chicken Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 13,996	That poor woman last night just wanted to talk to her mother and the reporter grabbed her phone almost as soon as she got through!!

10-07-10, 09:44 PM	#14
-null- Mini Mac Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,135	Anyone see the news tonight. They said they think the way the media were reporting things made Moat widen his threat to the general public.

12-07-10, 09:51 AM	#19
Fridge03 iPod Nano 2GB Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 133	The media always have and always will be the same. For the sake of their job, they cannot take any notice of morals, feelings or ethics it seems. It does need to be changed, but it won't be. I also think the reason why it got such news covereage even though it was contained to a relatively small area was due to the killing a few weeks before in Cumbria, so rightly or wrongly, people wanted to know about this one as well.