The decision of the Mod to allow the captured British sailors to sell their stories to the papers has been roundly criticised by the media this morning.
The Sun snapped up the best story that of the only women in the ordeal Faye Turney whilst the Mirror interviews the youngest of the party Arthur Bachelor.
Since the capture of the sailors two weeks ago,the incident has provoked much media fury,the Mail in particular leading a crusade against the Mod and the foreign office for what it saw as the roll over and die attitude of the British government.
The release of the 15 as an Easter gift by President Ad was seen as propaganda victory for the Iranian's and another nail in the imperial ambitions of the British government.Its coinciding with the deaths of four British soldiers on the roadside in Basra brought home the real realities of war and the Press were quick to point out the apparent contradiction.
Apart from the two red tops all the papers report this morning on the fury over the decision,the Times with a particular poignant article on its front page where the mother of one of the servicemen killed on Thursday attacks the Mod giving permission to sell the stories.
Joan Smith writing in the Independent says"Press payments will undermine credibility"
"Like contestants emerging from the Big Brother house - and I intend the comparison as a comment on the behaviour of the British press, not to belittle the hostages' ghastly experience - they have been through something just about everyone wants to know about, regardless of the fact that they are serving members of the armed forces. "
Is this another example of Big Brother mentality and are we all simply living in a goldfish bowl where all our actions are open to press intrusion.The comments of Alex Ferguson last week who blamed the hounding of England Manager Steve McClaren on the reality show culture spring to mind.
The Guardian quotes William Hague who says
"If, whenever people have been in a difficult situation, they are going to be allowed to sell their story quickly after that, then I think we are going to lose steadily that dignity and respect for our armed forces."
Peter Preston writing in the same paper says
After kiss and tell, it seems, we now have surrender and tell (as in, pick up a couple of years' worth of service pay for telling the Daily Bugle and Independent Sensational News how 13 days in Iranian custody seemed to you). These are "exceptional circumstances", says the MoD, granting exceptional rights to the Shatt al-Arab 15. They can sell their tales to the highest bidder: and Faye Turney - the lady with the drooping fag - will probably make more than the rest put together. It may not always be a woman's life in Her Majesty's Navy, but Fleet Street certainly knows what shifts copies across newsagents' counters.
What therefore are the counter arguments.
VOICE OF THE DAILY MIRROR: LET THEM SPEAK OUT
"The recent criticism from armchair warriors is unjustified when we learn exactly what went on in Iran.
Opposition attacks on the Ministry of Defence's sensible decision to let each personally decide how to tell their story is just party politics - with the real target being the Labour government.
Yet there's also a whiff of snobbery in the sniping - of admirals and generals enjoying pats on the back when they go public with flak reserved for the ranks.
This was an exceptional set of circumstances, with 15 brave service personnel kidnapped and paraded on our screens. That surely means we have a right to know what really went on there.
Gagging them would serve only the interests of Iranian propagandists - and deny Britons the truth of what really happened. "
Is the rational of the paper yet it didn't need paying for.The stories that have come out of their captivity do need to be told but why should their situation be any different to others in the armed forces?Faye Turney says that she wants the people to know.I agree but this can be done through the normal channels of a Press conference.It does not justify taking money.
The reports that some of them will donate their fees to charity does not amke it any better although stories this morning suggest that some are having second thoughts.
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3 comments:
The decision to let them sell their stories is a clever ploy to detract attention away from more serious questions about their capture and our inability to secure their prompt release. For the next week or so we are inundated with stories from these soldiers which are banal in their detail and which tell us very little more than we had already heard/read.
I think the government's statements and actions need to be scrutinised, as well as those of the media who may have placed Turney in danger by drawing attention to her while she was in Iranian custody.
Turney will talk about her ordeal at the hands of Iranians..,will tell the world how scared she was.., and will cash in thousands while children loose their beloved parents.
Incredible.
I am trying to not see a cynical side to the government's decision to allow the sale of the stories.
I think that subsequent events seem to suggest that the Prime Minsiter was not fully informed of the decision taken by Des Browne. The media reaction against Turney and Batchelor made the minister realise the grave error that he had made.
We can be thankful that right thought has finally prevail and reporting can concentrate on the real issues that should concern us in that region of the world
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