Mail takes the moral high ground over Jade Goody
OK! magazine could face official inquiry after publishing 'sick' Jade Goody tribute issue
Jade Goody fans are furious after OK! magazine published a tribute edition to the dying reality star even though she is still alive.
This week's copy of the magazine carries a black border, the banner 'Jade Goody Official Tribute Issue 1981 - 2009' and the strapline 'In Loving Memory'.
The Press Complaints Commission has now received 130 complaints from members of the public, rising from 60 yesterday.
Funny how we never hear about complaints regarding the Mail in the Mail, isn't it? And how they don't explain that unless those complaining are directly affected (ie are relatives of Goody) their complaints will be instantly rejected and cannot be considered - meaning there will be no 'official inquiry'. But then, who is it who was until very recently the big cheese at the PCC? Why yes, it was Paul Dacre. Who happens to be editor of...? Exactly.
Did the Mail consider 'Jade Goody fans', then, when it printed this?
Or this?
I have nothing against Jade Goody: it would be odd to feel anything other than sympathy for any mother dying so young. But that doesn't take away from the fact that she has achieved little of lasting merit in her short life.
So it might be appealing to try and take the moral high ground, but it's an absolute nonsense. And seeing as the Mail themselves print in this very article saying how bad OK is, a picture of Goody's mother with the magazine, it doesn't seem she's devastated with it, does it? And it's not as if the Mail have balked at printing pap photos intruding on people in moments of private grief either, is it?
So, let's cut the crap. The Mail are upset because OK got the scoop. That's the top and the bottom of it. So let's drop the bullshit, shall we?
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March 20th, 2009 - 13:48
The other element is that OK! is owned by Northern & Shell, owners of the Express. And the Mail and the Express, of course, like Cannon and Ball, hate each other really.
April 1st, 2009 - 11:09
And how they don’t explain that unless those complaining are directly affected (ie are relatives of Goody) their complaints will be instantly rejected and cannot be considered
Actually, thats not true. It depends on the complaint. I’ve had a complaint considered and acted upon by the PCC when I complained about factually inaccurate and sensationalised reporting. It is only when complaining about personal matters that only the people affected can complain. So I cannot complain that an article about Jade Goody caused her children to cry. Only the children (or their legal guardians) can do that, but for anything else the PCC will consider it.
Admittedly my complaint got lumped in with the other people who complained about the same issue, and all the paper (Evening Standard) had to do was print a right of reply letter from the first person who complained which laid out our complaint.
But the PCC was very nice and sent me a photocopy of the letters page.