Public Interest v Individual Privacy
Perhaps we need to consider others?
The HE story again highlights the dilemma the media has between reporting issues of Public Interest while maintaining an Individuals Privacy, especially where the issues may be ones of only allegations.
The recent events reported across mainstream media and also social media, clearly highlighted that depending upon your point of view, which predominately seemed to follow extreme political opinion, was where your allegiance lay on this story.
On the one side, HE deserved his privacy, and The Sun was totally wrong in reporting the allegations. While conversely, The Sun was fully justified in reporting the events that were in the Public Interest and the BBC were slow at dealing with the allegations.
My opinion is that the vast majority of us are not particularly bothered and as usual it is the extremists that seem to be most indignant about the allegations. The views expressed, as usual are generally of people who think their opinions are those of everyone else and are deserving of being heard, while it appears that most are just extreme views uttered without any real thought as to the consequences.
The usual necessity for Freedom of Speech remains paramount, but it is most important that individuals are not wrongly accused especially if as it would appear, there is no criminal wrong doing.
An issue that is highlighted is that where an allegation is made, it should always be investigated as a matter of urgency, as it is in the interest of both parties. However the investigation needs to be undertaken thoroughly and to fully establish the facts.
Once the review has concluded then its proposed actions or recommendations should be appropriately conveyed.
What is possibly stranger in this case is that the mother and stepfather of an adult has contacted both the BBC and The Sun. This begs the question about the privacy of the young woman in question.
I am sure that despite any concerns I may have for my children, once they become adults they would have not expected me to get involved in their personal issue, and I would like to think that as a responsible parent I would seek to support them as they wished, no matter what my own views on an issue.
Trust and honesty remain cornerstones of all relationships.
I feel the Sun, possibly understandably, as all mainstream newspapers was looking to report a scoop and seeking the best headline, while attempting to remain within the boundary of the law.
The BBC was attempting to manage a potentially difficult situation, regarding a leading employee while ensuring that any allegations were correctly reviewed. While the parents were looking out for a loved one.
Both high profile media outlets have their severe critics, who would like to see them in trouble, for different reasons, but as I noted before Freedom of Speech needs to be upheld, but should always be within the law of the land.
Many on social media do not realise that the vitriol being written is potentially libellous, and often much is written without the thought for the consequences and the potential hurt to those involved. This goes for the general public and also the egoistic celebrity figures that should know better.
Where does this story go, well like the PS issue it will most likely be forgotten in a few days as something new takes over the headlines, but it highlights where we as a society have found ourselves and at times it is not a very nice place.
