Adjectives used by the British Press to describe Goncalo Amaral

Adjectives used by the British Press to describe Goncalo Amaral and/or the Portuguese police (Source: Factiva database):

Note: To date, I cannot find a single article with an objective bio of Goncalo Amaral.  Not one.  Please send me a link, if you have found anything (news.winnow at gmail dot com).  (Thanks!)

53 articles: "boozy" or "boozer" (Examples)

418 articles: "disgraced, disgraceful, disgrace" (Examples)

440 articles: "outrage, outrageous" etc. 

37 articles: "bungling"

23 articles: "Keystone cops" (or Kops) (or Keystone cretins)  ("Keystone" cops has been used by English speaking people to describe bumbling or inept cops; based on old movies of the Keystone Cops.  Extremely insulting articles.)

42 articles: "Goncalo Amaral" and "lunch"  (includes all the "boozy lunch" "two hour lunch" etc. There are more than this, actually, but am not reading full text - many accuse him of "boozy three hour lunches" etc. but I'll need to run through them to get an accurate count Why is it newsworthy that a man eats lunch?)

45 articles: "inept"

220 articles: "sacked" or "fired"  (Note: Amaral was TRANSFERRED off the Maddie case and then chose to quit.)

49 articles: "hampered" "hampering" "hindered" "hindering" (the investigation);

43 articles: "outburst" (regarding his statement re: McCanns and the British police)

43 articles: "shameful" "shame" "shamed"

14 articles: "evil"

146 articles: "torture" "tortured" "attacked" (re: Leonor Cipriano)

Other terms used to describe this honorable police officer and/or his colleagues.: 

• "Oh, up yours, senor" (Title of column in the Daily Mirror by Tony Parsons - about which the Press Commission received 485 complaints.)
  
  
• sweaty oafish
  
  
• Inspector Clueless
  
  
• corpulent figure in an ill-fitting jacket
  
  
• fat, sweaty cop
  
  
• out of his depth
  
  
• liar
  
  
• lazy
  
  
• failed police chief
  
  
• giant ego
  
  
• manufacturing a case
  
  
• dishing dirt
  
  
• making stuff up
  
  
• feeding smears to the press
  
  
• spends hundreds of pounds per week at Carvi fish restaurant
  
  
• witch hunt
  
  
• stupendously stupid
  
  
• fragile macho pride
  
  
• swaggering plods
  
  
• lumbering yokels
  
  
• clueless
  
  
• corrupt
  
  
• biased
  
  
• Portuguese tormentors
  
  
• leaked information to the media
  
  
• vital evidence was ditched
  
  
• crucial documents were ignored
  
  
• weeks were wasted
  
  
• a shambles from the outset
  
  
• ignored sightings
  
  
• worked only four hours a day
  
  
• dirty tricks
  
  
• scarily amateur police investigation
  
  
• flawed inquiry
  
  
• beleaguered police
  
  
• evil suggestions (re: the McCanns)
  
  
• bizarre allegations
  
  
• vile slurs
  
  
• just want a convenient confession, true or false
  
  
• career in tatters
  
  
• abysmally mishandled Portuguese police investigation
  
  
• "Amaral was the main reason Kate and Gerry were named as suspects, despite there not being a shred of evidence that the couple were involved" (Blogger note: cadaver dog alerts to McCann items only, Gaspar statement, Smith family sighting, refusal to answer police questions or return to Portugal for reconstruction, changes to statements re: the night Maddie disappeared, etc.) 
  
  
• "Life on Mars" police (refers to a British television program, extremely insulting articles)
  
• "It was bad enough for the McCanns that their child was snatched. It was worse luck still for it to happen in a backwater policed by incompetents."  (In other words, Portugal is a backwater country and it's police force is incompetent.  A general statement rather than a specific complaint about this particular case.)
• spectacularly stupid, cruel Portuguese police”
  
  
• pigs
  
  
• filth
  
  
• fitting up her parents
  
  
• it is the Portuguese police who are the clowns
  
  
• Cruel, stupid, spiteful clowns
  
  
• bunch of clueless amateurs
  
  
• turned their rage on the McCanns
  

Portuguese citizens
 

• leering bumpkins
  
  
• sardine munchers (This began when Tony Parsons said about the Portuguese Ambassador to Britain "If you can't say something constructive about the disappearance of little Madeleine, then you just keep your stupid, sardine-munching mouth shut." 

• "... a scathing attack by Sir Richard Branson on the Portuguese media...'The Portuguese press have behaved abysmally, fed inaccurate stories by the Portuguese police, which all turned out to be a load of garbage,' he told The Observer" 30 Sept. 2007

******

In my opinion, this is a professional, orchestrated effort to destroy the reputation of a man who is unwilling to betray the truth.  Bear in mind that these are PUBLISHED NEWS ARTICLES, not merely British citizens speaking on forums or blogs.  The examples above ALL come from the British MEDIA.

The most recent example of the outrageous treatment of Dr. Amaral is the BBC broadcast claiming he had said "F*** the McCanns".  Native Portuguese claim that Amaral actually said "'Não, força aos McCanns" "Ask the McCanns" in response to a reporter's questions.  (GONCALO AMARAL DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH -  a fact widely reported over the last three years .)

Continue Reading... Labels: Clarence Mitchell, Goncalo Amaral, Madeleine McCann

The British Media versus Amaral - OCTOBER 2007

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST
October 2007 Headlines re: Goncalo Amaral



"Chief investigator in missing Madeleine case dismissed." Agence France Presse. 2 Oct. 2007.

"Portugal removes detective leading Madeleine case." Reuters News. 2 Oct. 2007.

"Head of Madeleine police investigation sacked." Agence France Presse. 2 Oct. 2007.

Clarke, Josie. Portuguese detective 'removed from Madeleine case'." Press Association. 2 Oct. 2007.

"Portuguese official chides British police for being misled by parents." The Canadian Press. 2 Oct. 2007.

"Portugal: Officer off missing girl case. The New York Times." 3 Oct. 2007.

"Boozy lunches and unchecked leads." The Daily Express, 3 Oct. 2007.

Pilditch, David and Martin Evans "Madeleine detective kicked off case after blasting British police." The Daily Express, 3 Oct. 2007.

Allen, Vanessa "Off the case; Madeleine police chief demoted after amazing rant against McCanns and British detectives" Daily Mail, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Detective leading hunt for Madeleine sacked after blast at UK police: Inspector says McCanns swayed British officers Family lawyer attacks 'absurd' comments" The Guardian, 3 Oct. 2007.

Hamilos, Paul and Brendan de Beer "Madeleine case officer demoted." Irish Times, 3 Oct. 2007.

Parry, Ryan. "Off the case." Mirror. 3 Oct. 2007. Boozy cop is demoted after furious outburst against the McCanns The bungling Portuguese police chief running the Madeleine McCann probe was last night kicked off the case by furious bosses.

"Detective who criticised McCanns taken off case." Birmingham Post, 3 Oct. 2007.

Parry, Ryan. "Madeleine cop axed." Scottish Daily Record, 3 Oct. 2007. Boss pays price for rant at parents. The workshy Portuguese cop running the hunt for Madeleine McCann was kicked off the case yesterday - hours after he launched a ranting attack on the tot's parents and British police.

Parry, Ryan. "Madeleine cop kicked off case." Mirror. 3 Oct. 2007. Bosses fury at McCann rant The bungling Portuguese police chief running the Madeleine McCann probe was last night kicked off the case by furious bosses.

Parry, Ryan. "McCanned." Mirror. 3 Oct. 2007. Boozy cop is demoted after furious outburst against Kate & Gerry BOOZY chief inspector Goncalo Amaral was last night off the Madeleine McCann case after an astonishing attack on Kate and Gerry.

"Portuguese detective removed from Madeleine case." Daily Post. 3 Oct. 2007.

"Maddie case officer removed." Daily Post (North Wales), 3 Oct. 2007.

"Portuguese officer taken off Madeleine case." The Irish Examiner. 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family’s spokesman said today.

Simpson, Aislinn. "Madeleine inquiry chief sacked after attack on British police." The Daily Telegraph. 3 Oct. 2007. The Portuguese detective leading the Madeleine McCann investigation was sacked from the inquiry last night after launching an astonishing public attack on his British counterparts.

Brown, David Brown and Patrick Foster. "Madeleine detective sacked after outburst." The Times, 3 Oct. 2007. He accused British police of a cover-up. Alarmed Portuguese take immediate action.

Panja, Tariq. "Family: New chief in Madeleine case should refocus efforts to find her." Associated Press. 3 Oct. 2007. The new chief investigator in the case of missing British girl Madeleine McCann should refocus the investigation on finding her, a spokesman for her parents said Wednesday.

Randhawa, Kiran. "Fears for maddy search after police chief is axed." The Evening Standard, 3 Oct. 2007. The parents of Madeleine McCann fear the search for their daughter could come to a halt following the sacking of the Portuguese detective in charge of the investigation.

"The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of..." Press Association, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Rothley girl Madeleine McCann should 'refocus'' the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said.

Herbert, Ian. "Detective leading Madeleine hunt dropped from case after outburst." The Independent, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Axed detective was controversial figure in Madeleine inquiry." Press Association. 3 Oct. 2007.

Lawton, Jerry. "Inspector Clueless gets boot." Daily Star. 3 Oct. 2007. A BOOZY Portuguese police chief heading the Madeleine McCann inquiry has been sacked from the case after accusing Brit detectives of shielding her parents.

"Rogue Maddie cop enjoyed 3-hour-long boozy lunches." Evening Herald. 3 Oct. 2007. The sacked Portuguese detective who had been leading the Madeleine McCann case had gained a reputation for his long, liquid lunches while the world waits for a breakthrough in the case.

"McCanns want focus put back on finding daughter.." Evening Herald. 3 Oct. 2007. Kate and Gerry McCann today called for the new head of the Portuguese police investigation to "refocus'' the inquiry on finding Madeleine.

"Maddie investigator sacked." SBS World News. 3 Oct. 2007.

Hartley, Clodagh. "Maddie cop sacked; Police chief a 'liability'." The Sun, 3 Oct. 2007. Portuguese bungler axed after attack on McCanns The bungling Portuguese cop running the Madeleine McCann probe was sensationally axed last night.

Hartley, Clodagh and Nick Parker. "Mad rant that got Maddie cop sacked." The Sun, 3 Oct. 2007.  Amaral claims Brit detectives duped by family The top cop removed from the Madeleine probe yesterday had accused British police of being duped by the McCanns.

"Detective removed from Madeleine case." The Irish News, 3 Oct. 2007. The Portuguese detective in charge of the Madeleine McCann inquiry was removed from the case yesterday after accusing her parents of manipulating British police, it was reported last night.

"Madeleine detective taken off." The Western Mail, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Maddie probe hits impasse after detective's sacking." Agence France Presse, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Maddie detective sacked - Costly outburst." Sydney MX, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Family's plea in Maddie hunt twist." Liverpool Echo, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuquese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said today.

"Call to 'refocus' on search for Maddie." Birmingham Mail, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said today.

"Maddie hunt plea." Birmingham Mail, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said today.

Hamilos, Paul and Brendan de Beer. "Detective leading hunt for Madeleine sacked after blast at UK police: Inspector says McCanns swayed British officers ..." The Guardian, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Missing-toddler investigator fired." Ottawa Citizen, 3 Oct. 2007. The detective leading the investigation into the disappearance of the British toddler Madeleine McCann was sacked yesterday, soon after he criticized British police officers working on the case.

"Madeleine case detective sacked." Calgary Herald, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Police chief removed from missing Madeleine inquiry." Yorkshire Post, 3 Oct. 2007. The Portuguese detective in charge of the Madeleine McCann inquiry was removed from the case after accusing her parents of manipulating British police, it was reported.

"Madeleine McCann chief detective sacked." The Press Trust of India Limited, 3 Oct. 2007. The Portuguese detective, heading the Madeleine McCann probe, has been sacked for launching a public attack on his British counterparts and the missing toddler's parents.

"'Focus on finding our Madeleine'." Evening Express, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police probe into Madeleine McCann's disappearance should "refocus" on finding her, the family's spokesman said today.

"Top Portuguese detective 'axed' from case." Aberdeen Press & Journal, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Detective is 'removed from Madeleine case'." Western Morning News, 3 Oct. 2007. The Portuguese detective in charge of the Madeleine McCann inquiry was removed from the case yesterday after accusing her parents of manipulating British police, it was reported last night.

"Madeleine detective is taken off the case." Leicester Mercury, 3 Oct. 2007.

"'Refocus on Madeleine'." Nottingham Evening Post, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said today.

"Find Maddie, family plead." Evening Gazette, 3 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said today.

"Lead detective taken off Madeleine case." The Journal, 3 Oct. 2007.

"Portugal: officer off missing girl case." The New York Times,  3 Oct. 2007. Portuguese Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral, who is overseeing investigation into disappearance of Madeleine McCann, is removed from case after chiding British police; says they are being misled by girl's parents Kate and Gerry McCann...

Pilditch, David and Martin Evans. "Kate and Gerry: We'll fly back to Portugal." The Daily Express, 4 Oct. 2007. Madeleine McCann's parents are happy to fly to Portugal to meet whoever replaces sacked Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral in the investigation into their daughter's disappearance.

Pilditch, David and Martin Evans. "Madeleine: Nobody in charge for a week." The Daily Express, 4 Oct. 2007. The hunt for Madeleine McCann has been thrown into chaos following the sacking of Chief Inspector Goncalo Amaral.

Pilditch, David and Martin Evans. "Kate and Gerry: We'll fly back to Portugal." The Daily Express, 4 Oct. 2007. The McCanns would be happy to fly to Portugal to meet the successor of sacked chief inspector Goncalo Amaral, it emerged last night.

Brown, David and Patrick Foster. "Madeleine cop sacked." The Australian, 4 Oct. 2007.The Portuguese detective leading the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann was sacked on Tuesday after he accused British police of helping her parents hide their role in their daughter's death.

Miranda, Charles. "Detective sacked from Maddie case." The Advertiser, 4 Oct. 2007.

"Madeleine cop sacked." The Australian, 4 Oct. 2007.

Miranda, Charles. "Portugal fires cop over UK outburst." Daily Telegraph. 4 Oct. 2007.

Allen, Vanessa. "Now focus on finding maddie, her parents tell police." Daily Mail, 4 Oct. 2007. The search for Madeleine McCann will be leaderless until at least next week.

"Off the case. Officer sacked." Townsville Bulletin, 4 Oct. 2007.

Miranda, Charles. "Madeleine detective sacked after outburst." Hobart Mercury, 4 Oct. 2007.

Parry, Ryan. "New cop in charge ..new hope for us." Mirror. 4 Oct. 2007. McCanns pray for fresh start after chief ousted Kate and Gerry McCann hope that bringing in a new police chief will give the hunt for Madeleine a new impetus.

"Focus efforts on finding Maddy, say McCanns." Birmingham Post, 4 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said yesterday.

Tariq Panja . "Lay off parents and find Maddie." Scottish Daily Record, 4 Oct. 2007. Family plea after top cop axed Madeleine McCann's parents want the officer who takes over the case to refocus the investigation on finding her.

"Maddie parents' cop plea." Scottish Daily Record, 4 Oct. 2007. The parents of missing Madeleine McCann want the officer who takes over the case to refocus the investigation on finding her. Kate and Gerry McCann were said to be prepared to return to Portugal to see the new man.

Simpson, Aislinn. "Madeleine case in disarray after sacking." The Daily Telegraph. 4 Oct. 2007.

"Get Sarah cop to find Maddie." Daily Star. 4 Oct. 2007. Lawton, Jerry. 'Ace British detective will crack the case' A British "super cop" was last night set to be brought in to crack the Madeleine McCann case.

"Madeleine cop gets the boot." The Daily Post (New Zealand), 4 Oct. 2007.

"McCanns fear Maddie search is hit by police row." Evening Herald. 4 Oct. 2007. The parents of missing Madeleine McCann are concerned that the search for their little girl has come to a halt as Portuguese officials struggle to find a new chief of police.

"Senior Madeleine policeman 'asks for time off'." The Irish Examiner. 4 Oct. 2007.

Hartley, Clodagh . "Maddie cops in chaos." The Sun, 4 Oct. 2007. The clueless Portuguese cops searching for Madeleine McCann face a WEEK without anyone in charge after the chief bungler was sacked, it was revealed yesterday.

Hendry, Sharon. "Good riddance." The Sun, 4 Oct. 2007. He was boozy, incompetent and convinced the McCanns killed Maddie...so we say to sacked police chief Amaral: HE'S the crumpled copper who looks like a seedy character from a bad detective movie.

"Senior Madeleine policeman 'asks for time off'." Press Association National Newswire, 4 Oct. 2007. Tim Walsh, A senior police officer in the investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has asked for an extended leave of absence, it was reported today.

"Fresh setback in Madeleine investigation." Guardian Unlimited, 4 Oct. 2007. The Madeleine McCann investigation faced a fresh setback today after reports that the second in command on the case, chief inspector Tavares Almeida, had requested an extended leave of absence.

Walsh, Tim. "Press Association National Newswire, 4 Oct. 2007. The parents of Madeleine McCann said today they had been inundated with messages of support which had helped to keep them strong 'during the worst times''.

"Focus on finding Madeleine plea." Aberdeen Press & Journal, 4 Oct. 2007. The new head of the Portuguese police investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann should "refocus" the inquiry on finding the youngster, the family's spokesman said yesterday.

"Your help carried us through the worst times." Leicester Mercury, 4 Oct. 2007.

"Mccanns: Your support kept us going." Leicester Mercury, 4 Oct. 2007. The parents of Madeleine McCann have said a heartfelt thank you to the people of Leicestershire, saying: "Your support kept us going during the worst of times."

Barrow, Andrew. "Now try to find our child, say McCanns." The Journal, 4 Oct. 2007. Spokesman calls for end to newspaper allegations.

Foster, Patrick. "Madeleine inquiry stalls over new chief." The Times, 4 Oct. 2007.

"I cry every day says Kate." The Daily Express, 5 Oct. 2007. Martin Stote For the first time she reveals her torment

"UK police backed move on parents." The Daily Express, 5 Oct. 2007. British police supported the decision to make Kate and Gerry McCann suspects in their daughter's disappearance, it was claimed last night.

Evans, Martin. "Chaos as police chief No 2 quits the McCann inquiry." The Daily Express, 5 Oct. 2007. The case against Kate and Gerry McCann went into meltdown last night after another top detective quit the investigation. Chief Inspector Tavares Almeida, who was second in command, told his superiors he no longer wanted to work on the case.

"Maddie search leader delay." Daily Telegraph. 5 Oct. 2007. The search for Madeleine McCann will be leaderless until at least next week as sacked detective Goncalo Amaral was unlikely to be replaced before Monday.

Hamilos, Paul. "Sacked Madeleine detective's deputy seeks leave." The Guardian, 5 Oct. 2007.

Allen, Vanessa and David Wilkes. "Some days I just can't stop the tears, says Maddie's mother." Daily Mail, 5 Oct. 2007. Kate McCann has cried every day of the five months since she lost her daughter Madeleine.

"A grieving mum sobs every day - McCanns speak out." Daily Telegraph. 5 Oct. 2007. Kate McCann revealed last night how she weeps every day for her missing daughter Madeleine.

"Second top Madeleine officer may leave case." The Irish Examiner. 5 Oct. 2007. The investigation into the disappearance of Madeleine McCann has suffered another set back, with a second senior Portuguese detective looking to leave the inquiry.

Chaytor, Rod. "Kate McCann speaks as never before.. Every day felt like a week." Mirror. 5 Oct. 2007. An emotional Kate McCann yesterday gave the most revealing insight so far into the nightmare she and husband Gerry have endured.

Continue Reading... Labels: Clarence Mitchell, Goncalo Amaral, Leicestershire Police, Madeleine McCann

McCann Family PR Offensive...

21 September 2007
CNN
Fionnuala Sweeney, Emily Chang
Excerpts:

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN ANCHOR:
Hello, I'm Fionnuala Sweeney in London.
Welcome to CNN's INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS, where we turn the spotlight on the media.

This week, the parents of missing Madeleine McCann go on a PR offensive. We look at their efforts to control the direction of the story.

... First, the media and the case of missing Madeleine McCann, a story that has dominated countless column mentions and television news bulletin in Portugal and Britain for more than four months. With few details released by authorities, much of the reporting has been based on leaks or speculation. Now the parents of the child have recruited a new family spokesman to help present their side of the story. Emily Chang reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EMILY CHANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over):
Kate and Gerry McCann follow closely behind their new front man, as he makes his first statement outside their home.

CLARENCE MITCHELL, MCCANN FAMILY SPOKESMAN:
And I feel so strongly that they are the innocent victims of a heinous crime.

CHANG:
This on yet another day when speculation about what happened to Madeleine continues to swirl and media coverage of the case goes round the clock.

(on camera): What do you have to say about speculation that Kate and Gerry are somehow involved in Madeleine's disappearance?

MITCHELL:
It's just not true to suggest that they harmed their daughter. They love their daughter as they love their other twins. And to somehow suggest, even indirectly, that they were responsible for her disappearance or even her death, if you know them, you realize that is just ludicrous.

CHANG:
In his former role as media advisor to the British government, Mitchell spent time with the McCanns in Portugal, just after Madeleine went missing. Sometimes he said up to 14 hours a day.

MITCHELL:
They didn't expect some of the coverage to turn the way it did. And they are relieved to be home now. They - and as a result, they're getting stronger. They - today, they're quite positive in fact. Of course, there's the constant reminder that Madeleine isn't there, but you know, they are dealing with that in their own way.

CHANG:
And Mitchell says they will continue to do everything they can to find Madeleine.

Emily Chang, CNN, in Rovely, England.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SWEENEY:
Debate 12 over how the media has covered the Madeleine McCann story. To assess that, I'm joined in the studio by Rita Jordao, the London correspondent with Portugal's Journal de Noticias and FIC TV and Charlie Beckett, the director of POLIS, the journalism think tank of the London School of Economics.

First of all, Rita, as a Portuguese journalist trying to cover this side of the story in Britain, what has been your experience?

RITA JORDAO, CORRESPONDENT, JORNAL DE NOTICIAS & SIC TV:
I think it's been very hard for British journalists in Portugal. It's been very hard for Portuguese journalists over here because you're Portuguese and because this story has become so big.

It became quite difficult for Portuguese journalists to cover the story and to get information, especially from official sources, even though, I mean, what is an official source in this case, we don't any more. But we do. Now with Clarence Mitchell, things seem to be becoming a little bit easier for journalists. Now we finally have information regularly. And hopefully, we will. And that's - up until now, it's been very difficult, very hard to get any information.

SWEENEY:
Clarence Mitchell, of course, being the person who was appointed initially by the government as the conduit to help the McCanns with their publicity that now actually has resigned his job. And there has been, has there not, Charlie Beckett, a complete distinct change in the coverage of the McCanns in terms of what they're putting forward for their defense through the media since he came on board full time again just a few days ago?

CHARLIE BECKETT, DIRECTOR, POLIS:
Well, I think Clarence is a great appointment all around. He's a very respected and a straight experienced reporter.

So he's going to have the sympathy of the news media in Britain, but also the international media. But I think he's also going to have the respect of the wider public. This is somebody who's trusted so from the McCanns point of view. He's a very good appointment. And it may bring some clarity.

But it's - in a sense, just another part of what has been a whole sort of public relations exercise. I don't mean that in a disparaging way. What I mean is that this has been extraordinary media event from the Day One. And in a sense, quite rightly, the McCanns have attempted to, if you like, use the media and control it so that they don't end up as victims of the media.

SWEENEY:
And how effective has doing that been for them?

BECKETT:
Well, I think it's the old adage. You know, those that live by the media can, if you like, die by the media. It's a very dangerous game to play. But I think from their point of view, they would say, look, they've been as honest as they can be. They've been as accessible as they can be. And they've tried to tell their side of the story. And I think that's all that you can expect from people embroiled in such an appalling situation.

SWEENEY:
Rita Jordao, as a Portuguese journalist, do you feel that the media in your country correctly judged how the story was going and reported how the story was going?

JORDAO:
I think it's been very difficult for the Portuguese media. I mean, even though we're used to dealing with the way the Portuguese police operate in the country, in this case, it's - the story has become international from day one. It's a Sky story from day one. And therefore, the Portuguese police kind of got a bit - the Portuguese press, sorry, kind of got a bit lost amongst this whole story.

I mean, there's no official information. Everybody needs to get something new today, because that's press. And the newspapers want to get, even if it's the small bit of information that the others don't have.

SWEENEY:
But most of the information was coming from leaks in the Portuguese authorities to the Portuguese media. And then, hence, you know, reported in the British media.

JORDAO:
Yes, but when we call sources within the Portuguese police, I don't know exactly what we're talking about. This could be a clean (INAUDIBLE). This could be an accountant that works for the Policia (INAUDIBLE). We don't really know who these sources are. And especially for some of the more tabloids of newspapers.

Do we trust them? I don't know.

SWEENEY:
At the end of the day, it did lead to Madeleine McCann's parents being named formal suspects. And that was always something that was more or less consistently reported in the run-up to that in the Portuguese media.

How do you think the British media have covered this in the very twists and turns, one has noticed changes in temperament and tone?

BECKETT:
Well, I think in defense of the tabloid British press, you could argue that the early criticism of them that they were going over the top on this story was actually wrong. This was an incredible story. There's another criticism of them, which was that they were too pro the McCanns. And also, that they were too hostile to the Portuguese police.

Well, I suspect that they may have been right to have been critical of the Portuguese police, not just because of the investigation, but in terms of the way that this relatively small regional police force was completely unprepared for the way they should or could have handled the British media.

SWEENEY:
Well, there is something about the British media, the pack abroad that's rather frightening for the inexperienced...

BECKETT:
It's not unknowing. We know that by now. Most international authorities should know that by now. And in a sense, the Portuguese press has not been greatly more distinguished than the British tabloids. So it's not just a British disease.

And I think what's interesting is the way - whether the story is part a legal problem the Portuguese police have, but the way that the story has been allowed to spiral out of control, that would never have happened in this country. Big cases like the (INAUDIBLE) cases. So the police have a strategy...

SWEENEY:
Yes.

BECKETT:
...for trying to manage media speculation.

JORDAO:
I think international factor is very important here. And I think there's been a rivalry between the Portuguese press and the British press. And that's what spans a lot of things, because whilst the British press was pointing a finger at the Portuguese police, the Portuguese press was pointing the finger at the McCanns. And therefore, and because that added to the fact that there was no official information, people need to - or the press needs to pick out little beyond little details.

I'll give you the simple example. In Portugal, for instance, the name McCann became almost an obsession. And some Portuguese journalists thought because everybody believed that the McCanns have got a lot of influence in Downing Street somehow.

It kind of became an obsession. We need to find out who these...

SWEENEY:
People.

JORDAO:
...who these people are. We need to find out whether the link is. And there's been so many lies...

SWEENEY:
Yes.

JORDAO:
...printed in the last couple of weeks.

SWEENEY:
I suspect they'll be a lot of doctorates done on this in the future. And indeed, more as time spent by us looking after it in the next few weeks and months as it evolves.

Rita Jordao, Charlie Beckett, thank you both very much indeed.

Continue Reading... Labels: Clarence Mitchell, Madeleine McCann, propaganda

UK government agency to monitor blogs

15 August 2007
Financial Times
Carlos Grande

The COI, the UK government's communications agency, is working on a way to monitor what people say about policy on blogs and internet forums for the media briefings it sends to ministers. A project by the COI's Media Monitoring Unit is considering how to add blogs to its regular summaries of government coverage in mainstream press or television.

The summaries are used across Whitehall from ministers to departmental communications teams, often as an early warning service on issues rising up the public's agenda. The blog project was in part prompted by departments' concerns at being caught unawares by debates spread on the web.

It reflects the growing media profile of the format and the fact some individual bloggers are moving from niche self-publishers to establishment opinion-formers.

Clarence Mitchell, director of the MMU, said though there was debate about the objectivity of some bloggers, several were taken increasingly seriously within government.

Mr Mitchell said: "There's a whole level of debate taking place online which simply didn't exist before and departments feel they need to be fully engaged in that."

He insisted any future service by the unit would not intervene in monitored blogs.

However individual departments which took any service might choose to reply directly to bloggers' criticisms - as they would any commentator - or address points through general media statements.

Pilot studies have looked at pensioners' online reactions to a recent budget and internet opinions on counter-terrorism measures. They have tracked web traffic generated as well as the tone of discussions.

The blog monitoring would need a sufficient number of individual government departments to agree to cover the extra costs involved. If this happened, MMU estimates a service could operate by the end of the year.

A growing number of companies already monitor blogs in sectors such as technology where online product reviewers can be highly influential. Universal McCann, the media buyer, recently estimated that more than 50 per cent of UK respondents to an online survey said they had read a blog within the last six months and about 20 per cent had posted comments on their own.

The media buyer said this lagged far behind China and south Korea where blogging - mostly devoid of politics in China - was more widespread, and less likely to be seen as self-interested as it is in the west. The vast majority of blogs in the UK and the US are abandoned after a relatively short period of time or read by only a handful of friends or contacts.

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