Leveson Report

[ahinton]

But that is no different from insurance companies and their customers picking up the tab for building on flood plains.

On that basis, one might argue that it's "no different" to any business transactions of any kind. When government authorises large-scale building on flood plains, it does not make it compulsory, but when a private company does it in any case it has first to seek and obtain planning permission from the relevant authorities whose knowledge of the risks attached to such building ought to encourage them to refuse such permission but, as we know, that has by no means always been the case.

Or Government and taxpayers forking out for a Leveson Inquiry where adequate regimes are rejected largely on cost grounds.

That second one is a big point actually.[/quote]
Whether the régime recommended as one of the outcomes of such an inquiry is rejected in whole or in part emains to be seen but, leaving that aside for a moment, what would you have done rather than have such an inquiry which, as you rightly note, is paid for by the taxpayer just as is anything else on which the government spends the money that it doesn't otherwise have? Do you think that it was all a waste of money or only if its recommendations are not taken up? And what if the recommendations are taken up but, in the end, don't actually improve matters that need improving or continue to allow - or at least not to prevent - further instances of victimisation by the media regardless of the punishments that can be dispensed for it when and where it can be proved to have occurred?

We are all talking as if press freedom is the key question and money doesn't come into it.[/QUOTE]

[ahinton]

our resident tax enthusiasts

A "tax enthuisiast"? Moi? !!!

[Anna]

Not really the right thread, but a Nurse who answered the prank Austrialian call about Kate and her pregnancy has killed herself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838
Broadcasters/journalists now surely must reign in their desires to play fast and loose with people for their listeners/readers gratification?

[Nick Armstrong]

Not really the right thread, but a Nurse who answered the prank Austrialian call about Kate and her pregnancy has killed herself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838
Broadcasters/journalists now surely must reign in their desires to play fast and loose with people for their listeners/readers gratification?

It's an absolutely terrible and absurd tragedy and should bring journos and 'media personalities' (which is really what the two Australian morons are) up short and make them think more than twice. RIP Jacintha Saldanha. One's heart goes out to her two children and husband.

[amateur51]

It's an absolutely terrible and absurd tragedy and should bring journos and 'media personalities' (which is really what the two Australian morons are) up short and make them think more than twice. RIP Jacintha Saldanha. One's heart goes out to her two children and husband.

Thanks for that, Caliban.

The poor woman has paid a very heavy price for their attention-seeking prank. Sincere condolences to her family and to all her colleagues at the hospital :rose:

[Anna]

It's an absolutely terrible and absurd tragedy and should bring journos and 'media personalities' (which is really what the two Australian morons are) up short and make them think more than twice. RIP Jacintha Saldanha. One's heart goes out to her two children and husband.

It reminded me of the tasteless Ross/Brand broacast about having sex with Andrew Sach's granddaughter, but that did not have the disastrous results that this "prank" has. It's upset me greatly that it should have had such a conclusion in a loss of life.

[Bryn]

It reminded me of the tasteless Ross/Brand broacast about having sex with Andrew Sach's granddaughter, but that did not have the disastrous results that this "prank" has. It's upset me greatly that it should have had such a conclusion in a loss of life.

The hospital management sound as if they were being supportive of her. If so, one has to wonder what sort of additional pressure she might have been under from the press and other media. A most distressing outcome of a particularly silly and indeed, for those directly involved (whatever their social status), personally intrusive prank.

[Flosshilde]

Not really the right thread, but a Nurse who answered the prank Austrialian call about Kate and her pregnancy has killed herself. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838
Broadcasters/journalists now surely must reign in their desires to play fast and loose with people for their listeners/readers gratification?

The story raises some difficult & complex issues. It was presented in the (UK) press as one of 'intrusion' & 'breaking patient confidentiality'. On the latter, I would suggest that patient confidentiality was compromised as soon as the Palace and/or the hospital told the press that Kate Windsor was in hospital, & what she was suffering from. Of course, that particular breech of confidentiality was carefully managed as part of the Royal Family PR which the press happily lap up. When it's someone else they become outraged (especially if it's 'colonials'). I saw the story of the call as exposing the hypocrisy of the UK media & the Palace (I doubt if that was the intention of the callers).

The press over-reaction (both to the call and to Kate Windsor being in hospital) has to be part of the reason for the nurse deciding to commit suicide. The hospital must also bear some responsibility for not realising that she could be under some stress, caused in part by the media reaction, and that she would be in need of care - if only being told that what she did was not very serious. It is tragic that she could see suicide as her only option.

[ahinton]

The story raises some difficult & complex issues. It was presented in the (UK) press as one of 'intrusion' & 'breaking patient confidentiality'. On the latter, I would suggest that patient confidentiality was compromised as soon as the Palace and/or the hospital told the press that Kate Windsor was in hospital, & what she was suffering from. Of course, that particular breech of confidentiality was carefully managed as part of the Royal Family PR which the press happily lap up. When it's someone else they become outraged (especially if it's 'colonials'). I saw the story of the call as exposing the hypocrisy of the UK media & the Palace (I doubt if that was the intention of the callers).

The press over-reaction (both to the call and to Kate Windsor being in hospital) has to be part of the reason for the nurse deciding to commit suicide. The hospital must also bear some responsibility for not realising that she could be under some stress, caused in part by the media reaction, and that she would be in need of care - if only being told that what she did was not very serious. It is tragic that she could see suicide as her only option.

This lady's suicide (if indeed this is what her death turns out to have been) is indeed a tragedy, but I would for the time being be very wary of ascribing blame for it anywhere other than with those who perpetrated this absurd hoax; if ultimately it might succeed in teaching anyone any useful lessons for the future, that will surely be the only good thing to emerge from this most sad event.

[Petrushka]

Consequences

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838

All my life I've hated practical jokes and hoaxes. They are always, always done by bullies and people who think themselves so superior to the person they are making look stupid. I loathed those Jeremy Beadle programmes and that God-awful one (name mercifully forgotten) that the BBC put on in imitation.

Children don't understand that actions have consequences but these two twits down under are old enough to know better. The massive humiliation this poor woman suffered as the recording went world-wide must have been crushing.

A sad and shameful story.

[Alison]

Goodness me, that's terrible news.

[french frank]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20645838

All my life I've hated practical jokes and hoaxes. They are always, always done by bullies and people who think themselves so superior to the person they are making look stupid. I loathed those Jeremy Beadle programmes and that God-awful one (name mercifully forgotten) that the BBC put on in imitation.

Children don't understand that actions have consequences but these two twits down under are old enough to know better. The massive humiliation this poor woman suffered as the recording went world-wide must have been crushing.

A sad and shameful story.

There are also posts on the Leveson thread. But I agree with the sentiments. I also have thoughts about (relatively) young media celebrities and the amount of 'power' they are given. There are generational differences, apparently? over Ross/Brand I know younger people who couldn't see what the fuss was about and thought it had been quite funny. Older people tended just to find it sick.

Of course no one could predict the awful consequences here, but having a joke at other people's expense for your own kudos is never attractive.

[Petrushka]

There are also posts on the Leveson thread. But I agree with the sentiments. I also have thoughts about (relatively) young media celebrities and the amount of 'power' they are given. There are generational differences, apparently? over Ross/Brand I know younger people who couldn't see what the fuss was about and thought it had been quite funny. Older people just found it sick.

Of course no one could predict the awful consequences here, but having a joke at other people's expense for your own kudos is never attractive.

I hadn't realised there were comments on the Leveson thread. Please feel free to move and suitably amend my post if you wish.

[Lateralthinking1]

Tragic news. She had no reason whatsoever to feel humiliated. In these days of often abysmal communication, I would say that the way she handled the call was 10 out of 10. Clearly she was caring and professional. It comes through in her voice.

My gut feeling is that she might have had such high standards that her inclination was to be self-critical. Perhaps in such unusual circumstances, more support could have been given to her, however capable she seemed.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

a tragic event and avoidable ....

a thoughtful piece by Howard Jacobson on freedom of the press and losing one's soul ...