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Under media siege
Commentary on the biggest media story of the year shows no sign of abating.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News, Top Stories
Commentary on what is now the biggest media story of the year has stepped up in the last 48 hours with multiple stories on Nine’s 60 Minutes saga,despite the network urging caution in reporting while its crew is still behind bars.
They include:
- Nine CEO Hugh Marks is considering issuing a full and frank apology to Lebanese authorities.
- Adelaide Advertiser editorial says “Nine must come clean.”
- Nine has hired crisis management specialist Greg Baxter to advise the network. He previously advised James Hardie and Austereo.
- Jamal Rifi, whose brother Ashraf Rifi was until recently the Lebanese justice minister, is also advising Nine.
- Nine News director Darren Wick is expected to stay in Lebanon for at least a month.
- Ex partner Ali El-amien will drop charges if he is given sole custody of the children and a full religious divorce. The move would help the Nine team.
- Analysis of the neighbourhood where the incident occurred and Hezbollah’s promise to its constituency that it can uphold the law where it operates.
- 60 Minutes family members meet with Nine.
- Grandmother injured in the incident undergoes brain scan
- Ray Martin supports actions of 60 Minutes crew
- 2GB presenter Alan Jones says Nine has become “dysfunctional” in its handling of the affair.
- Suggestions of compensation to family and state for a reduction in charges.
There are also stories on:
- the boat that was reportedly awaiting a ride to freedom
- claims the agency at the centre of the event used a Getty Images photo as rescued children on its site
- former Current Affair reporter pens an opinion piece on the matter, highlighting the children involved.
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- Tagged with 60 Minutes, Nine News
9 Responses
The only positive to come out of this might be networks reassessing the risks they take and the harm they can do all for the sake of ratings. Seven are just as bad as Nine. In 2015 Sunday Night featured a 15 yr old girl being ‘rescued’ from a Thai brothel. It could have all gone pear shaped in a similar vein to what has occurred in Lebannon. The networks became the story in the Schappelle Corby release saga; questions were raised re the media’s involvement when the Vincentti sisters were taken back to Italy.
There appears to be a disconnect between what the journalists are saying and the attitudes of the public. The media are treating it as another Peter Greste or Charlie Hebdo case with the main (perhaps only) victims being the 60 Minutes crew. But listening to talkback radio and from general comment by the public, the most often repeated argument is that originally put forward by Paul Barry on Media Watch – ie: What would happen if a Lebanese TV crew came to Australia to kidnap a father’s kids? There seems to be strong support for the father, but this isn’t being reflected in the coverage we have been receiving.
Nine don’t have much to shout about at present, with the Lebanon saga, the delay in the cooking show and possible soil problem with The Block, wonder where it will end.
I personally would prefer nothing be said until the justice system in Lebanon has completed its investigation and charges are made: or not. The Clive Palmer fracas should also be left alone by the same gutter press that is now our news outlets
There is an absolutely damning report in the Media section of The Guardian – posted on Friday night – ‘How Did It Come To This’.
“network urging caution in reporting while its crew is still behind bars.”
Generally media code for “go ballistic on this puppy and milk it for all its worth”
Honestly how quickly do we forget there is also a mother in jail for the same offence and does not get the same legal representation.
Thanks for the bullet point summary of the story. Every time I go to google the story to get a sense of it or an update, there’s another angle or development making it hard to know what’s what. Intrigued by 2 points: that the ex partner’s legal decisions will affect the future of the Australian media team. And that Ray Martin supports their actions. Does he know the full story? Does anybody other than a small group of inner circle staff and rescue team?
This is already one of the worst cases of “reporter becomes the story” ever. Just wait until they are freed – *if* they are freed that is. The media frenzy from Nine will be sickening.
“Nine has hired crisis management specialist Greg Baxter to advise the network. He previously advised James Hardie and Austereo.” Wow, an asbestos and shaming suicide apologist, charming…
“Suggestions of compensation to family and state for a reduction in charges.” So it comes down to bribing a “third-world” country eh? That’ll learn those dark swarthy types…