Like you, I believe that there are responsible journalists, but they have to do what they are being paid for. I remember myself almost getting fired for refusing a task. The good thing is that I could afford to say no. I was young, had no family and my financial situation was secure. But other journalists cannot say no. I believe some know what they are doing. I believe they know it’s wrong. But they have no other choice… Or do they?

I really lthink we often don’t get news or helpful information from the media. We get the sensational, the stories that advance some agenda of the media, coverage that glorifies evil and casts insinuations on anyone if they think it will attract ratings/viewers/readers …

This is only one of countless situations where the media makes situations worse instead of better. Continuous coverage of the VA Tech shootings and other events like it lead to more tragedies because disturbed individuals see they can become “famous” by destroying other people.

Of course, there are responsible journalists and many in the media probably believe they are performing a service. But unfortunately, I’m afraid you’re right about this case and many more.

I know about the Amber Alert - we have it here too not with the same name, but it’s there, and there’s something similar in Romania as well. But: the Amber Alert is not the same thing with what happens now.

The media abuses the victimized family. They use the event as a tool to increase popularity, number of viewers… whatever. They hunt the poor parents everywhere. They point fingers, accuse, torment.

This little girl is missing since more than two weeks. I hope she is still alive, but as long as the media watches, the kidnappers will keep a low profile. And we need the kidnappers to make a mistake.

The publicity is really wrong and it doesn’t seem to stop. Because they have nothing to publish, they even started to use the other kids of the McCanns. I’d like to believe this is a good strategy. But the statistics, even those you mentioned, tell other things. I am afraid that Maddie will end up being another unsolved case.

And that’s sad! It’s also sad that people don’t know when to stop. This reminds me of the VT case, when a murderer was turned into a media hero. Instead of talking about the victims and the grief, the media was hunting the sensational and promoting human trash.

What a real journalist should do is move his ass on the tracks of the kidnappers and try to find out the truth: interview the witnesses, think, perform a little detective work. Sorry, I am really pissed off about this.

Where I am they publicize an abduction like this as soon as it occurs. The reasoning behind the publicity is that they want to get the child back as quickly as possible. Therefore, we have what is called an “Amber Alert,” (so named after a little girl who was abducted and killed about ten years ago).

Apparently, statistics show that if a child is returned in the first 24 hours after they are taken they are much more likely to be unharmed. It seems to work. Some children (not all) are returned safely. People do call in as a result of seeing the child’s photo.

I am concerned for this little girl’s safety and my heart goes out to her parents. It appears that she has been missing for over a week. That is not good at all. This matter is definitely in my prayers.

best regards