Channel 4 in the UK is going to broadcast a documentary about the immediate aftermath of the crash that killed Princess Diana along with Dodi al Fayed and Henri Paul. There have been lots of programs about Diana so why the controversy?
The program is going to use photographs taken in and around the tunnel the night of the accident. And this is where the controversy starts, Channel 4 stated that some of the photos "have not been seen on television before" some seem to have interpreted this as meaning these pictures must have been considered taboo by everyone else. This then leads people to assume that the pictures must have been considered taboo for a good reason, so they think the pictures must show something gruesome.
The result of that kind of logic is an ever increasing sense of outrage that snowballs into some sort of national campaign against Channel 4. So now we have massive media coverage, politicians getting involved and the whole thing becomes impossible to ignore.
Apparently one of the most controversial images in the program was also used on the front page of a daily newspaper, yet I don't remember any controversy about that.
Here's my cynical view on the whole thing. Channel 4 make a documentary about Diana, the press release makes it sound a bit controversial. The papers then seize on this, because as we all know Princess Diana sells more papers. Really, put a picture of Diana on the front page of a newspaper and it sells more. Then some rent-a-quote politicians join in just because they can and they don't get the chance to be on telly much.
The end result is more people watch the program and more newspapers get sold. Wow, anyone would think they planned it.
Anyone tuning in just to see the pictures should just stick to watching Police, Camera, Action or the one with Sheriff John Bunnell.
Comments »
weaver @ 2007-05-30 08:36:37
Have you considered that the world is insane?
cpnichol @ 2007-05-30 09:03:44
Only every time I read a newspaper or watch the news.
