Daily Mail, Lies and Statistics
My blog went viral last night. I had more hits in 2 hours than I normally have in more than a week.
Sadly, not because of a scintillating piece of social commentary, or because thousands of people were interested in my writing. Although if any of you want to stick around and read some of my other posts, that would be jolly nice.
Simply because I was one of the people who grabbed a screenshot of the Daily Mail, exposing their lies.
Some commented that it was hardly a surprise, some noted that it was normal for newspapers to write up the opposing stories in order to get their story on the web as fast as possible.
Which is true, but the Daily Mail went too far. Stating that Amanda Knox looked “stunned”, which presumably she would have done had the appeal been denied, the Daily Mail went on to say,
As Knox realised the enormity of what the judge Helman was saying she sank into her chair, sobbing uncontrollably while her family and friends hugged each other in tears.
A few feet away Meredith’s mother Arline, her sister Stephanie and her brother Lyle, who had flown in especially for the verdict remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, glancing over just once at the distraught Knox family.
Prosecutors were delighted with the verdict, and said that ‘justice has been done’ although they said on a ‘human factor it was sad that two people would be spending years in jail’.
Both Knox and Sollecito – who have always denied involvement in the brutal murder – said they would take the case to the third and final level of appeal at the Supreme Court in Rome where it will probably be heard late next year.
This was put on the website as a statement of fact when in fact none of it was true. Making up quotes, embellishing the story by stating that Meredith’s family glanced over at Knox – all painting the scene of what might have happened but did not.
If the judgement had gone the other way, this would have been the story. This would have been the “news” with no one any the wiser that it was a complete fabrication.
It is storytelling but it is not journalism and it calls into question every story that has even been published in the Daily Mail.
We may have had suspicions, but this was definite proof.
The losers? Journalism. Truth.
Amanda Knox. Who is either a victim of a miscarriage of justice, or a killer who walked free. Either way, her life is in tatters and because of the incessant tabloid coverage, instantly recognisable all over the world. How will she be able to live a normal life, without being constantly observed and judged by those who believed the charges against her?
The family of Meredith Kercher. Whose death has again been overshadowed by shoddy tabloid journalism.
Were the “foxy Knoxy” headlines not shocking enough, the focus on the glamorous accused rather than the innocent woman who lost her life?
Kercher’s sister said yesterday, before the appeal hearing, “I think Meredith has been hugely forgotten“.
Spare a thought for Meredith today, when you rant about the Daily Mail. I will.
11 Comments
Little Me
Still annoyed at having missed this. It is shocking journalism. But shocking as it is I am not surprised that this happened on the Fail.
dawntigga
I was one of those who helped your blog go viral – it is important that this kind of thing isn’t overlooked or shoved under the carpet. IMNSHO this is FAR more important than hacking phones, the families of victims of crimes excepted. This is journalism, this is SUPPOSED to be truth and you did it. Consider yourself a proper journalist and hope it drives up traffic to your fab blog.
And yes, the victim of this crime will be lost in the scandal that this has caused, which is wrong. I’ll think of her every time I see something about this – so maybe not as much as we think.
You may now collect your press pass!
dxx
mmelindor
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Does this mean I get to start drinking coffee by the bathtub and chain smoking? #journocliche
mmelindor
No, it was only a matter of time until something like this happened.
A Modern Military Mother
Now you have your press pass you can start making it up too: ) Alas, it’s not just the DM – they are all the same.
But fantastic spot and it’s about time everyone raised there came. I feel like a massive time of change is coming. Might be wrong tho.
A Modern Military Mother
whoops game not came – toddler invasion threw me off my stroke!
butterflyexperience
I have no idea what to believe on this case.
I read papers, listen to the news and have to have a certain amount of trust in what they report because it’s the only source of information I have.
mmelindor
Thankfully there are alternative sources of information, with the rise of blogs and twitter, but they are of course not unbiased. It is so important that we have impartial press – or at least one that presents facts not fiction.
butterflyexperience
I agree that it’s highly important to have impartial press, however I am also wary of how much I believe from alternative media sources as they can often be seen as conspiracy theroys and gossip.
bullet
The Daily Mail is a pile of rubbish.
breadfortheboys
You are impressively on the ball and thoughtful MmeL – we need more people like you.