Re: The media's representation of court cases. COMMENT

http://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/2014/01/15/front-pages-archive.cfm

As I'm sure we're all aware, everybody who has been on TV or radio during the 80's is probably a paedophile. At least this is the impression you would get should you have watched the news a couple of days ago, or picked up the Daily Mirror or Daily Star yesterday (which can be seen via the link above).

The reason for all this sensation is due to the prosecution's opening statement, where they outline their accusations and what they hope to charge the defendant with. Due to the absolute privilege provided by the court, this means that the media can print or broadcast any of these accusations as a quote. However, my gripe is not with illegality of the media's actions, but with the ethics of their sensationalism.

The way in which the media portrays this information intentionally implies the guilt of the defendant, defending itself legally with the use of quotation marks; which, if removed, would be outright liable or in contempt of court. Tip-toeing the line of legality has replaced the responsibility of thinking for oneself in an empathetic manner it would seem.

At this point, I feel it's important to mention that I am in no way defending the accused individuals, for all I know they could have done it. The point is; should the media really be using what is purely an allegation in as close to a declaration as they can? Especially when considering that, if acquitted, the story would move to the middle of the paper, and may not even appear in the broadcast agenda. Forever tainting them with the public knowledge that they were certainly accused of being a paedophile.

These people are becoming martyrs to media profits, which seems to be overcoming any sense of dignity that mainstream journalism once had, a sentiment that I found was refreshed by seeing Anchorman 2 of all things. In light of the Leveson inquiry, can journalists really afford to be lectured on their integrity by Will Ferrell?

Innocent until proven guilty, and, for now, the media really are proving themselves guilty of irresponsibility.