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Thread: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

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    Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    If anybody had any lingering doubts about the quality of 'news' we get nowadays, then this article should dispel them.

    The bit that stood out for me was:

    "After Holly [Wells] and Jessica [Chapman] had been missing for a few days, two tabloid newspapers had offered rewards for information that totalled more than £1 million. In Dewsbury, locals scraped together the funds to print extra copies of the small posters distributed by the police."


    Where are the people emailing to donate money to the campaign to find this little girl?

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov View Post
    Where are the people emailing to donate money to the campaign to find this little girl?
    You know why as well as I do. Shannon is not cute or pretty (looks like Vicky Pollard for Little Britain) and her mother looks like a druggy on benefits.

    It's not right, but that's just the way it is.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    You know why as well as I do. Shannon is not cute or pretty (looks like Vicky Pollard for Little Britain) and her mother looks like a druggy on benefits.

    It's not right, but that's just the way it is.
    Sad but true

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Yes, I read that one too. It's heartbreaking, she's being punished for her lack of news-worthiness.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    It seems even missing children have to project the correct 'image' these days to make any impact.

    It'll be a different story if the worst is discovered...they won't have enough space to fill with the details then!

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Tiger Feet View Post
    It seems even missing children have to project the correct 'image' these days to make any impact.

    It'll be a different story if the worst is discovered...they won't have enough space to fill with the details then!
    If she had been blonde with blue eyes and her daddy was a london Doctor and her mummy a lawyer who looked 'fit' she would get loads of headlines

    So kids have good looking wealthy parents and keep in shape

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Trouble said the truth, if Shannon looked the right way with attractive parents from the right side of the tracks it be on the news and in the papers every day.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Not to mention failing to wear a Man U. T-shirt ....

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    Cool Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    Yes, I read that one too. It's heartbreaking, she's being punished for her lack of news-worthiness.
    Punished? Or is it that the more news worthy are rewarded? Subtle but discernible difference.

    Let's hope that others see the disparity as Barry did, and that in itself raises the awareness of this case.



    EDIT: Why didn't The Times include a picture in that piece? Then at least I would know who I was looking out for!
    Last edited by StokeBloke; 3rd-March-2008 at 07:55 PM.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by StokeBloke View Post
    Let's hope that others see the disparity as Barry did, and that in itself raises the awareness of this case.
    Funnily enough, it was The Sun newspaper (your favourite) that offered a substantial reward in this case.

    Who'd have thought it eh? Barry and 'The Sun' thinking alike.

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    Lovely Moderator ducasi's Avatar
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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    Funnily enough, it was The Sun newspaper (your favourite) that offered a substantial reward in this case.

    Who'd have thought it eh? Barry and 'The Sun' thinking alike.
    After Holly and Jessica had been missing for a few days, two tabloid newspapers had offered rewards for information that totalled more than £1 million. In Dewsbury, locals scraped together the funds to print extra copies of the small posters distributed by the police. They took them in bundles to neighbouring towns and handed them out to passers-by.

    However, last night The Sun newspaper offered a £20,000 reward for help in finding Shannon and offered to print posters to publicise the search.
    It's not quite the same, is it?

    Am I being too cynical to think that The Sun only did this after they saw a pre-publication version of this article?
    Let your mind go and your body will follow. – Steve Martin, LA Story

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by ducasi View Post
    Am I being too cynical to think that The Sun only did this after they saw a pre-publication version of this article?
    Oh I dunno, possibly.

    Who cares why they have put the money up...at least they are doing something positive.

    I reckon the mum's behind it...she looks well shifty.




    runs and hides

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    Cool Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    Oh I dunno, possibly.

    Who cares why they have put the money up...at least they are doing something positive.

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    I reckon the mum's behind it...she looks well shifty.
    Nice to see the class barriers don't always stand in people's way. At least there are some things that the McCanns are able to share with the Matthews family beside their mutual grief

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Breaking News...she's alive.


    At last, a happy ending? Or maybe not.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    Breaking News...she's alive.

    At last, a happy ending? Or maybe not.
    Why wouldn't it be a happy ending?

    Yorkshire Evening Post says a man has been arrested...

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Twirly View Post
    Why wouldn't it be a happy ending?
    Sorry...I was in a rush and worded that badly.

    It's obviously fantastic news that she has been found alive.

    What I meant was, now we will hear the details of why she ran away or what happened to her if she was abducted.

    Either was it's likely to make depressing reading.

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Poor kid was found in a divan drawer under the bed - i'm pretty sure that will haunt her for the rest of her days

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by DD+ View Post
    Poor kid was found in a divan drawer under the bed - i'm pretty sure that will haunt her for the rest of her days
    I'm waiting for more news. After what's been said about the step-father, it's entirely possible that Shannon was hiding in the drawer, because she didn't want to go home...

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov View Post
    I'm waiting for more news. After what's been said about the step-father, it's entirely possible that Shannon was hiding in the drawer, because she didn't want to go home...
    It wont be long till we hear sick jokes now she is safe

    The mother may have 7 children by 5 fathers and think twin means you have the same father (Daily Mail today) but give her a break she is only 32.

    Her 22yr old boy friend may look 15 with thick glasses but even so

    Its not for us to judge

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    Re: Our wonderful fourth estate - Shannon Matthews

    Quote Originally Posted by stewart38 View Post
    It wont be long till we hear sick jokes now she is safe
    Blimey, have you been away? The sick jokers didn't wait for her to be found.

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