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Today Tonight “World Exclusive” lacked hospital permission

The son of earthquake survivor Anne Vos is angry with Today Tonight for filming his mother in her hospital bed while she was recuperating.

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Today Tonight filmed earthquake survivor Anne Vos in her hospital bed without permission from the hospital, according to The Australian.

Canterbury District Health Board’s Amy Milne said Today Tonight had “blatantly” accessed the hospital without permission.

Anthony Vos described the filming of his mother in her hospital bed as immoral and unethical. Vos is outraged that TT filmed her with a small digicam while she was recuperating in hospital.

Reporter David Ecclestone claims Anne Vos agreed to the interview and that he left 100 messages for her son the following day.

“I asked him how he could attack a vulnerable person,” Anthony Vos said.

“He told me it was OK because she agreed to it. But I said she couldn’t agree — she was on medication and wasn’t the sort of person to say no. He made me feel like it was my fault because I didn’t ring him back.”

Seven could not confirm to TV Tonight that it had permission to film from the hospital.

“David had permission from the family…no-one from the hospital objected to TT‘s presence,” a Seven spokesperson said.

Seven had trumpeted the story on Thursday night as a “World Exclusive.”

”David Ecclestone is the only reporter to talk to survivors in hospital,” said host Matt White.

Now we know how.

On Wednesday two Japanese reporters were arrested when they tried to break into Christchurch Hospital to interview earthquake victims.

Seven’s bedside interview would also seriously diminish the ability of the family to sell their story to other media, which might have gone towards medical and other expenses. It also undermines the duty of care of the medical staff.

“She’s the sort of person who can’t say no, but then the nurses walked in and kicked them out,” said Vos.

Source: The Australian

26 Responses

  3. Why? Why do people watch this garbage? Aren’t Australians better than this? It’s shameful that some “journalists” can barely contain their excitement when a disaster occurs and then take advantage of the the victims. It’s truly sad.

  4. Just by the way, the thought occurs that one D. Knox is pretty brave writing this sort of article. I mean, this type of thread has ‘Mediawatch” written all over it and so must not win David any friends (nor thus any ‘scoops’) from the good burghers over at Channel Seven.

    So “Huzzah” to you, Mr Knox, for keeping the little shats honest!
    (And letting us vent our spleens at those who so richly deserve it!)

  6. While people keep watching, and TT makes money for 7, they’ll keep doing it.
    If you really want to make them stop, stop watching it. When they can’t make money they’ll stop producing it.

  10. Absolutely disgusting. At least we now know why they went with the shoddy handicam footage. It was so the hospital staff wouldn’t their immoral actions notice until too late.

    To prey on a vulnerable woman, doped on medication, and unlikely to have the wherewithal to resist or be properly cogniscent of what she might be agreeing to is criminal, or at least should be.

    I agree that there should be strong laws against this sort of behaviour (I thought there were) and both Ecclestone and Seven should be held accountable. However, it shouldn’t be left to the completely useless ACMA to waste more public funding investigating next year and having Seven promise to run some staff training.

    Scum will continue to behave like scum while there are no real negative consequences for their behaviour.

  11. Well bad luck Mr Voss, she told her story as she should, said her thanks and let’s move on without any money changing hands! I am glad she’s ok but why expect to benefit further?

  12. A newfound sense of propriety (and David!) won’t let me write what I would really like to say to TT, so let me just opine that while this is not the worst thing the gutter media have ever done, it’s certainly close to it.
    Care must be taken to not soley direct our anger at the men in front of the camera (who at least have to face the criticism) but to those weak individuals who hold the cameras and direct the crews.

    But you’ll note that ‘Today Tonight’ rated 955,000 last Friday night.
    What does that say about almost 1 million fellow Australians? They are the ones who keep TT in business.
    I’d say that puts them in the same category of personality as TT and their ilk.

  14. This show should not be allowed on the air people used to whinge about Big Brother but in my opionon TT is much worse whats the.bet that the equally bad ACA has a story about TT with in the next few days will be intresting to see media watch tonight

    @Craig TT wont even get a slap on the wrists from that pathetic ACCC

  16. Ten Evening News, Neighbours and World News Australia should be able to beat this crap in the ratings by huge amounts! Today Tonight do not have any viewers with an IQ above 0 and should have a rating of 0. If I became the head of 7, I would bring a very sharp axe and give Today Tonight among plenty of others the crop including deal, sunrise and masterclone

  17. Ch 7 & gutter journalism? No way! Seven have proven time & again they are the lowest of the commercial networks by a long way but this could be a new low.

  19. That is stepping over the line. Leaving 100 messages on the sons phone when his mother is in hospital does not at all justify the distorted impression TT has permission. Shame on them.

  21. here’s a world exclusive for you 7 – Low act of journalism..
    honestly who do they think they are, and what does this going to prove? In my books nothing to be honest.

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