The pornography of grief

One of the certainties of the massacre in Norway is that the number of Journalists and media in general will exceed the the dead and injured by some considerable degree. Whenever there is a large loss of life either by the actions of the deranged, as in this case, or natural causes such as earthquakes or the japanese tsunami the media appear, at speed and en masse.
They are there to bring us every last detail to tut tut over whilst shovelling down the morning cornflakes and brushing the croissant crumbs from the lapels before starting our day, where would we be without them. Probably a lot happier, and before you slag me off for being an uncaring cynic I maintain that the victims would be a lot better off without them as well.
They arrive at these 'entertainment' venues and feed off the grief and anguish of the witnesses and survivours like J K Rowlings Dementors.
"You've just seen some of your friends shot in front of you how do you feel about that"
Jerry she's crying, are you getting that. Would she be better into the light to show the tears.

One clip from the tsunami sticks in my mind of a reporter doing a piece to camera, standing in the midst of complete devastation, looking as though he'd just stepped off the catwalk, suit and tie immaculate. They must have carried him into place as there was not even a speck of dust visible on his, obviously expensive, shoes.

Given my background in photography I know full well that I would be able to cover such an event and be worrying about composition, lighting, exposure etc. Had I covered all aspects, any angles on the subject that others may have missed. So does that make me a hypocrite for feeling the level of disgust I do for the whole media circus surrounding these tradgedies? Maybe, I'll let others judge that.
I think what bothers me is the excessive overkill (inappropriate but I can't think of a better description) of so many of the human animals involved in the feeding frenzy and the often crass pointless questions driven by deadlines ( it seems difficult to avoid these unfortunate puns) and the desire to top the opposition network or paper.
There is one point to consider, if I can be allowed to argue against myself for a moment, and that is the eventual cumulative effect on those covering the event.
All of those split second black moments as the cameras mirror flips up to allow the shot to be taken eventually mount up and leave a black stain on the soul. Always assuming said soul hadn't already been traded to the devil in exchange for a Pulitzer prize.

Now where was I?

I've not been here for nearly a year?
I had a note from me Mum but the dog ate it, honest.
No excuses just loads of other inconvienient stuff to do like work and all writing exploits directed to, well learning to write better'n wot I did before.
An ongoing process which may well result in another blog at some stage, hopefully sooner than later.


I've resisted for some time now but it looks like I'll have to join the merry throng on Twitter. Just about every program on TV or radio not only trails their Twitter and Facebook address but constantly quotes anyone and whoever on Twitter as a news source. The Arab spring and Ozzy Bin Lid meeting his deserved end to the Tweeted announcement of helicopters overhead from from a guy who ironically had moved to the area for a bit of peace and quiet being cases in point. To say I've resisted for ages is somewhat of an exaggeration I actually opened a Twitter account in 2008 but at the time it was just another oddity amongst many others.
With the hacking scandal I think we may now be looking if not at the death of the news media in print then certainly at a serious moving of the goal posts. In a world where you can get the direct information even before the papers who is going to wait 24 hours for some hack to chew it up and spit out his own biased version once the presses have rolled. If you want longer than 140 characters then many of those who Tweet also blog (who me?), not least the very reporters working for the print media.

The Times they are a charging if you want to see their online product. Somehow in this case I think Mudrock will have as much success as Canute would holding back the Japanese Tsunami.

Whilst driving the other night in the pouring rain I was listening to the extensive reports on the resignation of the Met chief Paul Stephenson and his unsubtle swipe at Cameron who, just possibly, may now be at risk.
I had one lingering image in my mind that I couldn't shift.
Brad and Janet driving towards Frank N Furters mansion with the Nixon 'No whitewash in the Whitehouse' speech playing on the radio.

Johnny Marbles pies (foams) Mudrock! You couldn't script it better if you tried.
How many others are going to have their faces in a mess once this massive game of Kerplunk finishes.