For one of the news stories I will
be analysing is a public interest article. This story is about Jimmy Saville a
TV presenter in the past, the man who sexually abused multiple young children. A
woman now in her 40’s, has said that at the age of 8 she was a victim of his
Jimmy Saville’s abuse. It happened as she lay in Stoke Mandeville Hospital
after she had undergone surgery for cancer, which left her with 144 stitches
across the lower part of her body. She had raised complaints with a ward sister
at the time and was told to ‘Be quiet, silly girls. Do you realise how much he
has done for the hospital?’
This story is in interest of the
national public, this is because he was a TV and Radio presenter and was once a
British icon. Also because more and more cases are being broadcasted, people
will want to know and deserve to know what this man did as it was such a large
case and there are a lot of questions people want answers to.
The immediacy of this story is
quite important because it is a very serious case and should be broadcasted on
TV and radio. Most broadcasting companies do have immediacy now as they can
interrupt a TV show with a banner across the screen informing the viewers with
the news story. Another way to do this is on the radio at the times the news
programme plays, or if it is a very serious story the show can be stopped.
There are a few follow up stories
angles from this story, for example more stories on sexual abuse cases not just
to do with Jimmy Saville but also other criminals that maybe the audience don’t
know about. Another story could be to do with the families of the victims doing
interviews about the incident.
When getting audio to include in
the news story, it is quite difficult when trying to protect the victim if they
are either a minor or just don’t want to be named. It would be possible to get
an interview from the victim or criminals family but the reporter must be very
careful to protect the identity otherwise this is breaching certain contracts.
It is also very limited when trying to get audio from the criminal as they’re
either in prison or like Jimmy Saville, have passed away.
This story is both human and public
interest as it is a serious case and a lot of people want answers and like I
have said previously he was well looked up to, he was an icon for others.
The second news story I am analysing also a public interest and also very
serious. This article is about a 16 year old girl Rebecca Watts, from Bristol
(St. George’s area). She was reported as missing when she didn't return home
from going to visit her boyfriend. Her father led a search with hundreds of neighbors
to help find her or any clues of her whereabouts.
Just like the previous story, TV and radio broadcasters can add a banner on
a TV programme or stop a radio show to inform people about the story. This is
immediacy and will ensure people are aware of this serious story. For example
if more people find out about this there will be more chance of finding any
clues about Rebecca. Also other broadcasting companies could put this out on
social media sites at any time in the day.
There are a few follow up angles to go from when broadcasting this story,
for example it could help uncover other stories about missing children. Also
their families will be interviewed and could create a radio quick audio clip that
would be broadcasted to try and contact Rebecca in case she is listening.
There will be quite a lot of available audio because her family, friends
and neighbors will be being interviewed to ensure as many people as possible
are informed. Her name isn't being protected and it is a vital part of
information that the public need to know to help find her.
This story is human and public interest as it is very serious and every
person that sees or hear about it could have some information about the missing
girl.