Sunday

Sports Journalism

The subject of sports journalism has me completely bemused...

In our first semester here, we learnt about libel, slander, defamation etc and i thought i had got to grips with it with the help of the Mc Nae's law book. When a reporter is writing a piece on a celebrity or just any story there are certain areas that they have to be extremely careful....

However, it seems to me that with sports writers, the same rules don't apply, some of the transfer stories that appear in The Sun and The News Of The World are simply moronic and don't have an ounce of truth in them, yet they get printed and nothing comes of it?

Please someone explain to me why?

Jade Goody

Is anyone else bored of newspaper headlines involving her? Because i certainly am....

This "Z-list celebrity" came into the spotlight after an appearance on the atrocity that is Big Brother on channel 4 back in 2002 and since then has made her own television programme and sold clothes and various different scents for women. 

Around 6 months or so she was diagnosed with cancer and it was confirmed earlier on this month that it was terminal. Now, don't get me wrong, despite hating her common voice and appearance (judging a book by its cover i know, but really i'm a snob at heart) i feel sorry for the woman, as no one deserves to die, especially through the horrible nuisance that is cancer. 

Many people suffer from the same disease that poor Jade is suffering from but do they get the same coverage in the press? Sir Bobby Robson , a well known (and far more relevant public figure)  ex football player and manager, has been the victim of cancer on no less than six occasions but is he spread across the newspapers?

I would like someone to explain to me why when we are currently in worldwide financial crisis, involved in two seperate wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and are under constant terrorism threats yet Jade Goody's last few days of life make the front pages?

Personally, i think the fact she has allowed her last few days to be almost dictated by the press and their photographs and interview sessions with her is distasteful. I understand she wants the best for her children and that she is getting married to the love of her life, however, i don't think it is really public interest, but maybe it is, you decide.....