1. keithwhu asked Simon Bucks: "Derry Nairn asks: The Sky News website has Mc Cann's story as a leading story still quite often? How can you justify that? You would think that there are lot's of more important things to cover than..." Show more »"Derry Nairn asks: The Sky News website has Mc Cann's story as a leading story still quite often? How can you justify that? You would think that there are lot's of more important things to cover than the story of one missingchild? " Show less »
2. Simon Bucks answer: "We only lead on it when it is justified editorially. That means when we judge it to be the most important or interesting story of the moment. I slightly take issue with your reference to "one missing ..." Show more»" We only lead on it when it is justified editorially. That means when we judge it to be the most important or interesting story of the moment. I slightly take issue with your reference to "one missing child" which I presume to be perjorative. Many stories revolve around one individual. That is because generally people find it easier to relate to individuals than to large nebulous groups and abstract concepts. But as I mention earlier, I think this single child's case personifies important and big issues about child raising and child safety which is why people find it interesting. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:56:45 AM

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1. keithwhu asked Simon Bucks: "Derry Nairn asks: Adam Boulton said at the Editors conference in Manchester recently that many readers comments are 'not worth the paper they aren't printed on'. Do most comments about the McCann's ..." Show more »"Derry Nairn asks: Adam Boulton said at the Editors conference in Manchester recently that many readers comments are 'not worth the paper they aren't printed on'. Do most comments about the McCann's bear that out? " Show less »
2. Simon Bucks answer: "I don't agree with Adam about this. We value comments by our users, many are very intelligent and thoughtful. Of course, there will be some which are daft or abusive, but that is the nature of the internet...." Show more»" I don't agree with Adam about this. We value comments by our users, many are very intelligent and thoughtful. Of course, there will be some which are daft or abusive, but that is the nature of the internet. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:56:09 AM

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1. keithwhu asked Simon Bucks: "Derry Nairn asks: What for you has been the worst coverage of the McCann case? Has there ever been a time when you have worried that the media or a certain publication has gone to far?"
2. Simon Bucks answer: "The Portugese media is largely unregulated and has sometimes printed stories which are untrue and unsourced. Elements of the UK media may have followed suit. But most responsible and serious sections..." Show more»" The Portugese media is largely unregulated and has sometimes printed stories which are untrue and unsourced. Elements of the UK media may have followed suit. But most responsible and serious sections of the UK media have covered the story well. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:55:24 AM

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1. keithwhu asked Simon Bucks: "Derry Nairn asks: Do you think the fact that the McCann's have employed professional media spokepeople has helped the media coverage of the abduction, or indeed, the attempts to solve the case?"
2. Simon Bucks answer: "It's very hard to tell. They have certainly helped keep the story in the public eye across many countries. If the child was kidnapped then more people would have know what she looked like and might have..." Show more»" It's very hard to tell. They have certainly helped keep the story in the public eye across many countries. If the child was kidnapped then more people would have know what she looked like and might have alerted the police if they recognised her. On the other hand some people argue that the glare of publicity would have scared the kidnappers into killing the child for fear of being caught. In their position, I would have probably done what they did it. But I am speaking personally here. "Show less«
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4. 0 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:54:11 AM

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1. TimHood asked Simon Bucks: "In the last week we have seen both Heather Mills and Kate McCann break down in TV interviews. Do you think most news editors regard this as 'good television' or do you think they feel uneasy about it?"
2. Simon Bucks answer: "Both these interviews were carried out on other channels, so perhaps you should ask the editors of those channels. "
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4. 1 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:42:12 AM

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1. sunnyday asked Simon Bucks: "What benefits, other than satisfying peoples' morbid curiosity, do you think the media coverage of the McCann case has brought?"
2. Simon Bucks answer: "The McCann case touches anyone with children who has had to make daily decisions about looking after them. I completely reject the idea that our coverage is only designed to satisfy morbid curiosity...." Show more»" The McCann case touches anyone with children who has had to make daily decisions about looking after them. I completely reject the idea that our coverage is only designed to satisfy morbid curiosity. But all news coverage depends on the consumers being interested, or indeed curious, in the subject. The implication of your question is that we should prescribe what people should be interested in, a philosophy more suited to a dictatorship than a democracy. "Show less«
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4. 1 comment   |  Topic: Media   |   Email to friends   |   Dec 26 2007 8:40:42 AM

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