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Soaps are changing their storylines

Comments

1. At 04:30 PM on 23 May 2007, Otto's Mummy wrote:

   d'you know, I think i've lost the will to live - there's a kind of world out there that I'm just not in touch with. I suppose that's why I listen to PM, someone to help keep my finger on the pulse when all it wants to do is go and grow vegetables.

2. At 04:44 PM on 23 May 2007, Big Sister wrote:

   Hm. Ut's hardly news, though, is it? There's a long history of TV and radio pulling stories which happen to coincide rather uncomfortably with reality. There's also a history of programmes which don't get pulled and then the producers come to huge grief with the public.

   The real problem, I guess, is that soaps are so keen nowadays to be seen as abreast of the news that they tend to find themselves in the proverbial.

3. At 04:50 PM on 23 May 2007, wrote:

   What's interesting is to read the comments people have added, particularly on the second link. I think more people are beginning to form the opinion that whilst tragic for the family, this is unfortunately not an uncommon occurence. A few additional thoughts:

   1. Would ITV and the ´óÏó´«Ã½ have run their storylines if the Madeline McGann case was not as high profile?

   2. Will the storylines be run in, say 18 month's time, when another child might be missing (but not headlined)? Wouldn't that cause just as much heartache to that family?

   3. This isn't the first time a child has gone missing. Wouldn't the storylines have re-awakend the grief felt by the families who have suffered in the past? If so, then surely it's double standards to cancel the storylines now. By that logic, the storylines wouldn't have been considered in the first place.

   4. Did the public know that these storylines were going to be happening, particularly the details and how closelyt they would match the current circumstances? If not, then the cancelling of the storylines should NOT be news. After all, there's no point reporting on something that is a work of fiction that isn't going to happen! It's like saying "Elton John is not going to release a cover version of the Birdie Song"...

   I think this shows that the "Diana-fication" that's crept into this country is finally being seen for what it is; a media frenzy generally driven by the tabloid press.

4. At 05:52 PM on 23 May 2007, Chris Ghoti wrote:

   How nasty it is of me to wonder whether anyone knew about this Eastenders script/storyline before the Coronation Street one was axed.

   Not having a TV, I am a little handicapped in guessing what build-up if any there had been to either storyline, but how satisfactory to get a bit of front-page publicity for not doing something!

   Oh all right, just colour me cynical.

5. At 05:56 PM on 23 May 2007, wrote:

   FF @ 3...nail...head...hit...right on.

   ....good on yer guv....

6. At 06:03 PM on 23 May 2007, sleepymazza wrote:

   I have to agree with the guy who was interviewed. If there genuinely are people who can't work out that these storylines are fictional and therefore NOT REAL, then I think we have cause for concern.....

7. At 06:31 PM on 23 May 2007, Ross wrote:

   My point is this -

   These cases happen all the time - if EastEnders and Coronation Street stop this story becuase they do not wish to upset the family of Madeleine McCann then it is a bit of slap in the face for any family who suffers a loss in say, 6 months time.

   
   This is just another example of the post Diana world where emotion takes precedent over rational thought.

   Of course, this scenario would not have came about if the media had not spun this story to their own ends, selling grief on their pages in a vain attempt to make people feel a little bit better about themselves.

   I wonder - why is this one case carrying more attention than the many cases such as this all over Britain and Europe. Indeed, even more take place further afiled. I read that since Madeleine disappeared approximatley 75,000 children have died as a result of malaria.

   Where is the sense of proportionality?
   

8. At 06:56 PM on 23 May 2007, wrote:

   Ross @ 7

   re: Where is the sense of proportionality?

   
   there isn't one, .....sorry to sound bitter and twisted....but I have heard about and seen too much heartache and sufferring to last anyone more than a lifetime. And that's just in the UK.

9. At 07:24 PM on 23 May 2007, wrote:

   Please, PM, don't slide into Silly Season-itis. Brace yourself for a bit of shouting:

   " THIS ISN'T NEWS!!!!! "

   It really isn't.

   The refugees in Lebanon who've been driven out of their refugee camp by the Lebanese army -- that's news.

   Health Secretary facing a vote of no confidence in the Commons -- that's news.

   Man with Blog mouthing-off about TV soap operas -- NOT NEWS.

   Do you see?

   (I'll drop the patronising tone soon, I promise!)

   Fifi ;o)

10. At 08:54 PM on 23 May 2007, Chris the Pickle wrote:

    Fifi, FFred, Ross & DIY: Agree with all of you on several points, especially the proportionality comment. How many children have disappeared over the years and had no publicity for whatever reason - one suspects one reason could be lack of funds available to the families concerned to set up publicity campaigns.

    It goes without saying that my heart bleeds for the McGann family, of course it does, but I can't help but agree with Ross' comment about the media "selling grief on their pages in a vain attempt to make people feel a little bit better about themselves."

    I hope and pray every day that Madeline will be found safe and well, along with countless others who haven't been heard of for years. Ben Needham's Mum must be beside herself every day, regardless of what soap operas do or don't portray.

    I would imagine that the last thing members of a family missing a child would want to do is sit down with a nice cuppa and watch The Street or 'Enders. They're probably too overcome with grief to even smile some days.

11. At 10:20 PM on 23 May 2007, Ross wrote:

    fifi -

    I think that the lack of proprotionality present in the reporting of this case IS the news. The reasons behind it and the issues that are present when that is examined are - I feel - paramount in a multicultural society.

    The disappearance of the child is a tragedy for those involved, but I do not think that it warrants the attention it has been getting from the media in this country.

    As has been said numerous times before elsewhere, had this family been the Khan famil form Tower Hamlets on a package holiday to Benidorm the case would be covered completely differently.

    I feel sympathy for those involved, but I think that stopping every day life to tie a yellow ribbon to my shirt and 'find our maddie' is simply unrealistic.

    Madeleine McCann hs become the present day Diana.

12. At 07:15 PM on 19 Jun 2007, Pavel wrote:

    The folks doing the "Keep Madeleine McCann" in the news thing,have done an amazing job. They have turned what could have been a vilification from the press (Child snatched while left alone by parents out for dinner - or worse) into a positive "lets all help find her".
    Who will miss a soap opera story line, real life is far more emotionally moving.

13. At 10:20 PM on 12 Sep 2007, Luz wrote:

    PLEASE THEY MAKEARRIVE THIS MESSAGE AT FAMILY MC,CANN, NOT TO BE SPEAK INGLES. McCann gentlemen, aqui in Peru, there is a person who is vidente, it appears in the television channel 20, and has multiple of testimonies I I have much faith that can say to him if its hijita this alive one or if has even been kidnapped, she is a guessed right person and it has creibidad, please they deliver an attack by its hijita Madeleine and come to Peru. Hoping their problems are solved soon and the truth is known I take leave. Luz.