Although leading with the McCann case, the Express is, unsurprisingly, the most sensationalist. It reports a death toll of 500,000 as a definite:
That figure came from Haitian senator Youri Latortue, although he 'conceded no one really knows.'No matter that no one really knows, the Express decides to run it - as fact - on its front page anyway. As does sister paper the Daily Star ('500,000 are killed'), who manage to find a little corner for Haiti alongside a tedious lead about Celebrity Big Brother and Jordan.
The Metro, meanwhile, settles for 'up to 500,000' which is quite a margin of error.
Other headlines are more circumspect, and rightly so in such an uncertain situation. The Guardian says there are 'fears' the death toll could rise above 100,000. The Independent and the Times simply state 'thousands'. The Telegraph says 'at least 100,000'; the FT that it 'could be well over 100,000'. Even The Sun plays safe with its '100,000 quake toll fear' headline.
Curiously, the Mirror thinks it is appropriate to drag the title of a Nicolas Cage film into its coverage:
But at least the biggest news story of the day is there on the front.
Because one national daily newspaper (and only one) thinks Haiti isn't worth mentioning on its front page. Apparently, the Daily Mail and its Editor Paul Dacre, regard their Femail magazine and their free Poirot DVD as more important:
"Because one national daily newspaper (and only one) thinks Haiti isn't worth mentioning on its front page. Apparently, the Daily Mail and its Editor Paul Dacre, regard their Femail magazine and their free Poirot DVD as more important:"
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, they seem to consider Gary McKinnon more important.
The Poirot DVD is more in line with the Mirror's football stickers, sharing the front page with Haiti.
Criticism does seem to be due, but not in the form you have put it there. Not that I am any friend of the obnoxious stinking rag in question.
They could have given a corner to Haiti, the way the Star did. Instead they devoted all their corner space to Poirot and Femail. It's not that they didn't run it as the main story, they didn't run it on the front page AT ALL.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - I'm sorry but I can't really see your point.
ReplyDeleteIt's the biggest news story of the year so far and every paper - even a joke one like the Star - has it on the front except the Mail.
Yes they have put McKinnon as their main story, but they have three other items on the front page.
One is a total non-story about something that hasn't happened to the McCanns. One is the pointless little plug for their Femail section. The other is the Poirot DVD.
And they find no room for Haiti.
I think that's unbelievable and a serious error of judgment.
Moreover, the Mail's coverage of Haiti doesn't actually start until page 12.
ReplyDeleteWait until they drag the body of a British aid worker / UN employee out of the rubble.
ReplyDeleteIt's be front page of the Mail then.
...Only if they.re white
ReplyDeleteSadly, you're pretty close:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitpic.com/y22ch