Just covering all things... Journalism

Just covering all things… Journalism

I'M sure you are all aware of the tragic incident that happened on Tuesday 6 January when a car carrying five girls was involved in a collision with a van in Athy. Sadly, four of the girls died that night. The driver sustained serious injuries and is still in hospital.

But that’s not what I'm here to talk about. I am here to talk about the insulting and disrespectful coverage of the crash by the Irish Daily Mirror. The tabloid named the surviving girl as the “driver who survived shocking road smash which left four of her pals dead".

After going online with the incident a mere few hours after it had occurred, the journalists in question had the nerve to insinuate that the crash was caused by this young girl. Imagine her and her family’s position. She has just been through a hugely traumatic ordeal, she has lost four of her best friends and is surviving with serious injuries and these ‘journalists’ decide to name and shame her?!

This is disgusting, insensitive and extremely bad reporting which lacks any sense of compassion.  It is an appalling way to speak of anyone involved in such a devastating accident.

 A journalist’s role is not to add to the situation but to explain it. This inaccurate, untrue and sensationalist garbage needs to stop. This girl has been affected enough without the media adding more! I have only been studying journalism for three months and even I know that. Anyone would.

Much of the media’s coverage of this event has been disgraceful. Images of the crashed car on the internet made my stomach turn. Imagine how their families feel, and seeing all of these images on top of it?! It is appalling. We need to step up as writers and take a look at ourselves. News writing isn’t just about trying to get a ‘one-up’ with sensationalist headlines and inaccurate statements. A journalist’s role is simply to report the news, accurately and fairly.

If you would like to sign a petition against the reporting of the accident, follow this link: https://www.change.org/p/irish-daily-mirror-irish-daily-mirror-s-editor-in-chief-and-journalists-david-coleman-colin-brennan-and-gareth-mccreevy-are-to-publicly-apologise-to-the-kearney-family-for-insensitive-and-inappropriate-reporting-of-the-accident-their-daughter-was-inv?recruiter=33283623&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=share_facebook_responsive&utm_term=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg&utm_content=rp_petition_fb_share_desc%3Acontrol