10 News First criticised over William Tyrell image tease
10 defends their digital image of how William Tyrell might look aged 13, after teasing viewers across two days.
- Published by David Knox
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Media Watch last night criticised 10 News First for the way it teased viewers with a digital image of how missing boy William Tyrrell would look at age 13.
The story marked the 10-year anniversary of William Tyrrell’s disappearance. But the reveal last week played out over two days.
“Tomorrow 10 News First will exclusively reveal 10 years on, a teenage William. He would have been heading into year eight or nine at high school and would look quite different now with the onset of puberty,” said reporter Ali Donaldson. “It may trigger something in someone to unlock this mystery.”
“So did 10 stick with its pledge to reveal all the following night?” host Janine Perrett asked on Media Watch.
“Of course they did. Teasing its blurred mockup of William at the top of its five o’clock bulletin. Twenty minutes later the suspense was over.”
“…and now we can reveal exclusively 10 years on this is what 13-year-old William would look like today, a young teen tackling year seven or eight at high school,” Donaldson told viewers.
Other media, such as Ben Fordham on 2GB, also found fault with the approach, saying “Whoever is running the newsroom should think long and hard about their way they’re covering a very sensitive story.”
A Network 10 spokesperson said, “The disappearance of William Tyrrell ten years ago is one of the biggest unsolved crimes in New South Wales, if not Australia.
“10 News First worked with one of the top international forensic scientists to create an image of what William may look like now, in case members of the public may have seen someone matching this likeness and be able to help in ongoing investigations.
“Our primary concern – like everyone – has always been in finding out what happened to William.”
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9 Responses
It could help the investigation. But I do think it’s tacky to tease it for viewer retention. It’s news and not a soap or drama.
Given that 10 News First doesn’t seem to rate all that well in Sydney (or anywhere), why should anyone be surprised at them pulling a tacky stunt like this to grab viewers?
I actually thought Media Watch missed an opportunity to do some deeper analysis on coverage quality. Despite a slight loosening of the purse strings to allow fully fledged NSW and Queensland bulletins again, 10 News First are probably still a few reporters off being a proper challenger to “the big two” for stories.
Hence why Ten used a reporter for the Tyrell case who has previously done fluffy Easter Show stories, whereas Seven & Nine likely would’ve had more dedicated crime reporters front and centre with the likes of Andrew Denney (ironically ex-Ten, I know…) and Emma Partridge probably playing a major role on their respective networks.
MW did refer to other coverage on Nine and Seven as contast, if not necesarily deeper.
A new low for Ten News
The delaying teasing tactic of the presentation of the AI-enhanced photo by Ten is not news.
A delay in presenting the photo indicates the lack of urgency of the story.
AI has been used to ‘age’ or ‘rejuvenate’ a person.
For example, there is compelling evidence that a seer of the 1917 vision of the Virgin Mary at Fatima, Sister Lucia has been substituted since the 1960s.
A person in the US funded many forensic tests to find compelling evidence that the alleged Sister Lucia from the 1960s was a substitute. That included using AI to age images of the original seer and rejuvenating the alleged substitute.
It was compelling evidence that the seer of 1917 was not the alleged seer from the 1960s.
Returning to the case of William Tyrrel, it would have been compelling news had Ten used AI-enhanced photos aging him at six months, one year and two years to help the public identify him at the time the child went missing.
Media Watch was very good last night. Back to what it does best instead of political agenda. I hope Janine Perrett does the job permanently next year.
I didn’t see it as a tease. A1 can be good for many things. It could turn out to be a positive picture. If this boy is still alive it would be easier to identify him. Maybe he would recognize himself. Personally i don’t feel he is alive, but one should never give up hope. i know I wouldn’t. Just my opinion.
The tease was that you had to tune in the next night to actually see the photo. This boy’s disappearance should not be used as a ratings stunt. If they have the picture then show it immediately.
When this was originally teased I had a moment of…what is this all for? I didn’t see either bulletin, i think the fact they dragged it over two days makes it far more taboloidy and a bit salacious. Every time this tragic incident is mentioned and they use the photos and the video of the little boy, it is always so grim. I’m glad i didn’t watch these follow ups. Ten does over do their introductions and in my state the newsreader has a tendency to shout them too!