Good morning, dear reader(s). This time last year, I published a blog, decrying the way the rolling news networks love a good tragedy. Step forward, SKY News, and Oscar Pistorious (When I say ‘step forward’, you know what I mean – Before anyone accuses me of taking the mickey out of a disabled runner). Bizarrely, a year since Oscar Pistorious was arrested for the shooting of his girlfriend, it seems that SKY News, and other rolling news networks have been waiting for Mr Pistorious’ impending court trial, like a snake lying in wait to apprehend a mongoose for tea. Members of the media having been calling for televised court trials in this country for years. As someone who once served on a jury, court cases, depending on the circumstances can be harrowing, and it is up to those picked twelve members to assess the details of the ‘crime’, and to rationally determine the facts presented, and to come up with a justifiable verdict. When I served on a jury (Which was an intriguing four weeks), any sort of public intrusion, or outside influence was unacceptable. What goes on, and said in a court of law should remain there. What the media have done, especially since the globally televised farce that was the murder of Nicole Simpson, starring some dude called O.J, the media have taken the concept of fair trial, and put it in the bin. One such example was in the late-1990’s of the murder of a young girl by the name of Jon-Benet Ramsey, where the media, and public subsequently decided that the young girl’s parents were already guilty, thus neutering the jury employed to make up their own minds (The parents were exonerated, but the scars of discovering their young murdered daughter, and the public hate levelled against them will always remain) Don’t get me wrong. I am all for justice, especially the seemingly ongoing public enquiries this week highlighted by the blighted Stephen Lawrence trial, that I hope the deceased victim’s family will find the justice they so deserve, and the perpetrators will be re-tried and sentenced. In addition, I am glad the incompetency of the investigators and their superiors has been exposed, and they also have to be punished accordingly, within the confines of the law. It has to be done in the right way. Once the final decision has been made in a trial, and the verdict been given, then let the public know, and therefore we can make up our own mind. However, trial by television or social media is becoming the norm. Late last night, I was watching the newspaper review on SKY News – I was then informed, that “Coming up next! The Trial of Oscar Pistorious… In HD” – It sounded like the title of one of those dreary made-for-TV films that Channel 5 like to show on an equally dreary afternoon. To make this horrific trial sound like a televisual treat, once again you, yes YOU, are encouraged to ‘Tweet’ your views, or ‘Like’ it on Facebook! One South African commentator even stated that South Africa have a right to televise the court case, as it’s in the public interest – Is, it? – I thought it was solely in the interest of the accused, and the deceased’s family. The social commentator even went as far as to say that South Africa has always believed in justice and a fair trial. Seriously? I presume then, apartheid was a figment of one’s imagination, and if the rolling news networks get their way, then historians will, in one-hundred year’s-time, refer to all the unjust racial trials, instead of ‘apartheid’, will be called the ‘black and white misunderstanding’. It’s almost like describing 9/11, as ‘The Twin Towers Kerfuffle’. Yes, I know that sounds harsh, and I don’t mean to trivialise these disgusting events, but the rolling news networks are indeed doing that very thing. Don’t let the fact get in the way of a good story, eh? Don’t forget the tabloids – However, we’re taking TV, so they can go away. The rolling news networks will continue to do this. By asking for your opinions in a supposed open-forum, it’s almost like feeding an unstoppable beast – The beast being the news networks, themselves. Remember the goings-on in the Ukraine? Well, they’ll get back to you, when the situation gets worse. By then, it’ll be too late. By that time, you wouldn’t have just ‘Tweeted’ your opinion, you would’ve sold your soul… Only Justin Bieber can save you now. (I would like to state, I have nothing against South Africa, the tragedy of 9/11, or the problems in the Ukraine, but watch SKY, or FOX News, and you’ll see the point I’m making) Give it a fortnight; ITV News will have caught up. Have a nice day. Don’t have nightmares…
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 10:46:15 +0000
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