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On covering Bega

Assaulted journo Daniel Sutton says "Anyone who thinks journalists enjoy covering stories like this has got rocks in their head."

Channel TEN journalist Daniel Sutton was one of the journalists assaulted during the week in an attack by locals. He has given an account of the events which gives a stark insight into how covering such tragedies isn’t pleasant for anybody.

Here are selected excerpts from a more compelling feature as published in the Sunday Telegraph:

I’d like to be blunt about this. Wednesday night’s attack on the media in Bega’s Commercial Hotel was unacceptable. We didn’t antagonize, we didn’t intrude, and we didn’t deserve to be bashed simply because of our profession.

It was after 11pm. We were leaving the pub after dinner, but found the main doors locked. Moments later we were surrounded, and trapped in the corridor by half a dozen members of the local footy team, swearing and yelling at us to “get back to Sydney”.

Nine reporter Denham Hitchcock was pushed, then repeatedly punched. More drunken locals and members of the footy group joined in the assault, and as we tried to help our mate, we became punching bags too.

Denham was hit in the face, neck and back and stomach over and over again.

Seven journalist Sarah Cumming ran to the adjoining bar, screaming for the door to be opened. Only to be told we were getting what we deserved.

A staff member eventually let us out, the mob followed and the attack resumed.

We’d gone to that pub for dinner. We’d been told it had great food. We didn’t know the footy team would be there. We didn’t have our cameras or note pads, we were not there for a story. We were there to unwind after a difficult day of work.

And to clarify, none of us approached these men, or tried to talk to them about their friend. We spent the night in the beer garden. They were in the bar.

Anyone who thinks journalists enjoy covering stories like this has got rocks in their head. Dealing with terrible grief is one of the worst parts of our job. But sometimes it IS our job.

The footy group had accused us of trying to make money out of tragedy and of harassing Shane O’Neil’s grieving family. We had done neither. We felt for the people of Bega, Kalaru and Tathra and most of all, for Shane’s fiancé Stacey. We couldn’t even imagine her pain.

Source: Sunday Telegraph

17 Responses

  1. I’ve only lived in Bega since August last year and the community here is incredibly supportive and concerned for others. The type of behaviour described is nothing I have ever witnessed. The media holds all the power in that they can put whatever spin they like on *anything* they like.

    If the above story is correct, why haven’t those were part of “the trap” interviewed to put their side of the story forward, or is this a case of eke yet more sensationalism out of heartbreak and show no understanding of what those young men in the bar might have been going through. If the report is accurate and unbiased, why not give the others the chance to tell their side of the story?

  2. Well it just goes to show news reporters dont always report the truth “did not know the footy team would be there” crap thought you were reporters????? Maybe you didnt have cameras but what comments did you make to fire up young greiving men who had been drinking (as young greiving men do……..) yes it will all come out in the end!!!!!!!!!!

  3. If someone had died, would it have been murder given the doors were locked…shows intent to harm?

    Feel for the poor buggers, but that was a malicious planned attack. No excuse.

  4. the most disturbing part of this is certainly the locking of the doors and traping them, just imagine if someone did that to you, that would be terrifying. especially trying to get help and being told you deserve it, no one deserves violence.
    leese- sure the business has to close some time but you don’t lock the doors with people still inside, you kick the customers out then lock the doors, that’s what every other business does.

  5. The sad thing about news in general is that to get the webpage hits, sales of newspapers, and the tv/radio ratings, networks will push a story to beyond its limits. I’m wondering what the news crew was still doing in town. The story had happened, the family didn’t want to speak to the media. Why were they still there? How many times can they rehash and repackage, and essentially pick the bones of the story? And closing the main doors after 11pm? Establishments do have a closing time.

    I preferred the comment that Denham Hitchcock made at the end of his piece on the news the next evening, Let’s not forget that 3 people died. Sure it’s their job to report. But let the family and town the grieve in private! Stop trying to drum up a further story!

    And no I’m not condoning the action of drunken boofheads. Albeit drunken boofheads who were drowning their sorrows after the death of a close mate.

  6. Andrew, I agree, commercial TV does cash in on tragedies like this, but that hardly excuses an attack like this. Besides, according tthe full article from the Telegaph, they didn’t even speak to the family:

    Quote: “That day I made one trip to the family home on behalf of all three TV networks. I didn’t have a camera. I didn’t even knock on the door. A family friend told us, they were not ready to speak to the media, and we left.”

    What a disgusting incident.

  7. Quote: “The footy group had accused us of trying to make money out of tragedy and of harassing Shane O’Neil’s grieving family. We had done neither”

    I dispute this statement. Of course commercial TV makes money out of tragedy. If there was no tragedy their ratings would drop and so would their advertising rates. They make their money by feeding off misery then try to justify it by saying it’s in the public interest. Report the basic facts of the story then get out of town.

  8. While it is somewhat understandable that such a emotionally traumatic event can make people do stupid things without thinking, the fact that they had lead them into what was pretty much a trap is absolutely disgusting behavior.

    And throwing around racial insults and abusing some poor paramedic trying to help the injured? I agree with his words: it was “ugly and inexcusable”.

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