All entries for Sunday 02 July 2006

Have they got it the right way round?

Yesterday England were knocked out of the World Cup, with a 3-1 loss to Portugal on penalties. It was the end of a long campaign that many people really thought we could win; thousands of fans, not to mention the players, left Germany in defeat with tears streaming down their faces.

And, two British soldiers died in Afghanistan, taking the total to five within the past three weeks.

The two men were with the 3rd Para Battlegroup. Four others were injured in the attack in the Helman Province in the south of the country.

Two undoubtedly big stories for today's broadcasters. What do you think they led their bulletins with?

Now I'm not one for being pernickity, but does it seem right for both the BBC and Sky News to give the resignation of David Beckham as England captain greater editorial importance than the death of two serviceman in what is becoming a more violent and dangerous mission in Afghanistan? I can't imagine the families of the two soldiers taking that decision well.

There are other factors to consider of course.

The World Cup is over for England and so it's the broadcasters last chance to make lengthy air time out of it. The events on the pitch certainly held the nation for over two hours yesterday and the media should reflect that too. Also, for television, the pictures of events in Afghanistan were sparse, in fact a map of the country was all we were treated to on BBC News 24. Compare this with emotive images of a teary Beckham trying to read his handwriting. The war in Afghanistan, much like Iraq, has become one of those chronic events dragging on without conclusion; it seems the public has lost its taste for war coverage.

Perhaps I am being to Points of Viewish. Middle aged men with balding hair wearing shorts with socks up to their knees will undoubtedly write into Raymond Snoddy and complain; and equally a BBC editor will stand up and say "we felt it was the right decision under the circumstances" and perhaps they're right. But I can't help but feel that we only lost a football match yesterday, and when two soldiers who would rather have been watching the game lost their lives, the media should step back for a second and consider what's really important.

: 02 Jul 2006 22:58 |  Tags: Broadcast Journalism News |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Trackbacks (1) |  Report a problem