As a retired journalist who has worked across the world for over 40 years, I have always struggled with the grey area in the profession over newsworthiness.
My main gripe is the choice of many to act as vultures, preying on the private suffering of others – particularly high profile identities.
We used to label these journos as ‘ambulance chasers’.
Sadly, Australia’s obsession with sport has led to our press epitomising this gutter-raking mentality.
We live through and glorify stars as if they are on a higher plain when they are winning, but we will equally drool over reporting their fall from graces, with scant regard for their right to privacy or respecting the damage it might do to them.
The first and only thought is to air their dirty washing, even if it means rubbing salt into their open wounds.
Ian Thorpe’s current plight is testimony to this, and frankly the way the press have handled it is a disgrace of the highest magnitude
Arguably Australia’s greatest Olympian, with a swag of medals and world records, Thorpe is an athlete who captivated the Aussie public with not only his exceptional feats in the pool but his natural good graces, charm and the sincerity that has always exuded from him.
Heartbreakingly, after a failing to make a comeback in the 2012 Olympics, he has fallen on hard times.
The days after have seen him appearing in the papers for his alcoholism, sexual orientation and depression, culminating in the recent report of police picking him in a dazed and confused state after he tried to break into a van.
Honestly, do we need to have this reported to us? It highlights how much joy we take in bringing down a legend.
Why not respect everything this great man has given to the nation and us as its citizens by deciding to turn a blind eye to this under the auspices of one’s right to privacy!
Will
Guest
Would be great to see Thorpey back on TV with a regular cooking and travel type of program. It would be a great hit.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Very interesting article thanks Tim and a good perspective. I think there are clearly two sides to this. Many stars as Atawhai says court the media to absurd lengths although not being an Aussie I couldn't honestly say whether Thorpe did that or not. So I guess when things go a bit pear shaped they have to expect it to be reported in the same way the good stuff was. I think as well journalists have to judge whether a story is in the public's interests and I would have to say in this case it probably is. In which case the issue is more with the style of the coverage rather than the actual coverage itself. On a separate note, it's a shame to see yet another ex sportsman struggle to cope with the loss of fame and focus. You can put it down to 'poor little celebrities who should try having real problems' but it is clearly a more and more common problem. The case of Paul Gascoigne in the UK is just tragic to watch unfold.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Thorpe is entitled to privacy, as anyone is. But he and his management team have cultivated the media fairly assiduously over the years. Christo the Daddyo has made the point perfectly.
Statler and Waldorf
Roar Guru
I agree with you Tim but I have a different opinion of why it happens: the general public lap up newspapers and magazines with these stories in them and so the journos would be ignoring the market if they stopped writing them. Why are people so obsessed with what Justin Beiber is doing or who Shane Warne is sexting?
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Yeah, I'm mostly with you on this subject. With the caveat that top sportsmen earn a fortune by using the media for their own benefit, and so need to understand that that can come back and bite them. It can also serve a useful purpose in reminding us mere mortals that all the fame, fortune and world championships count for squat if you are suffering from mental illness.