Grief and horror become news porn

A mother's grief, the stench of rotting flesh, the terrifying near-misses: did we really need to know?

The London bombings started as a genuine, multi-faceted news story worthy of in-depth coverage. Not only did the facts of the incident need to be uncovered, but the reaction to the attacks provided us with insights into society. But now all we are left with is a desperate attempt on the part of news organisations to maintain this fevered state of interest - and the result is a pornographic focus on tragedy.

BBC News today, for example, features the grief-stricken face of Marie Fatayi-Williams, whose son Anthony is missing. The quality newspapers over the weekend splashed the photograph of a young woman whose fiancé could not be found. Meanwhile, we receive ever more details of the horrific scene in the hot and narrow tunnel under King's Cross where police and forensic specialists pick through the corpses for clues.

It may be that there is an audience for such stories, but pandering to a desire for vicarious grief is wrong. There are few new facts to be disclosed about these incidents. What is needed is a discussion of the wider ramifications of Thursday's events. If the media can do no better than titillate, it would be better if they found another story to report.

Mother makes plea for missing son, BBC News, 11 July 2005