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Peaches Geldof - was the coverage by newspapers, and TV, over the top? Peaches Geldof – was the coverage by newspapers, and TV, over the top?
(35 minutes later)
The sudden death of a young woman, especially the daughter of a man as famous as Bob Geldof and with a history of family tragedy, was bound to be a headline event.The sudden death of a young woman, especially the daughter of a man as famous as Bob Geldof and with a history of family tragedy, was bound to be a headline event.
When news broke that Peaches Geldof had died, aged 25, the Sky News presenter momentarily floundered. Similarly, the BBC's news channel had some unusually nervous moments.When news broke that Peaches Geldof had died, aged 25, the Sky News presenter momentarily floundered. Similarly, the BBC's news channel had some unusually nervous moments.
What followed was a couple of hours of vacuous, and sometimes embarrassing, interviews with "commentators" who endlessly repeated that it was a tragedy, that it echoed the early death of her mother, Paula Yates, and that Peaches had led an unconventional life. Twitter was scanned for quotable quotes.What followed was a couple of hours of vacuous, and sometimes embarrassing, interviews with "commentators" who endlessly repeated that it was a tragedy, that it echoed the early death of her mother, Paula Yates, and that Peaches had led an unconventional life. Twitter was scanned for quotable quotes.
She was variously described as a journalist, TV presenter, DJ, model, "fashion icon", mother of two, twice-married. There were also vague references to her being "too thin".She was variously described as a journalist, TV presenter, DJ, model, "fashion icon", mother of two, twice-married. There were also vague references to her being "too thin".
The story led the main evening news programmes, pushing down the order developments in Ukraine, the Maria Miller controversy and the Oscar Pistorius trial. It also garnered much more coverage than the death of 93-year-old "legendary" film star Mickey Rooney.The story led the main evening news programmes, pushing down the order developments in Ukraine, the Maria Miller controversy and the Oscar Pistorius trial. It also garnered much more coverage than the death of 93-year-old "legendary" film star Mickey Rooney.
Meanwhile, newspapers were able to prepare their news reports, analyses, picture research and tributes without the difficulty of sitting in front of a camera.Meanwhile, newspapers were able to prepare their news reports, analyses, picture research and tributes without the difficulty of sitting in front of a camera.
Most editors decided that the TV news shows were right to give the Peaches Geldof story top billing. Some devoted their entire front page to it, such as the Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Star and Metro.Most editors decided that the TV news shows were right to give the Peaches Geldof story top billing. Some devoted their entire front page to it, such as the Daily Mail, The Sun, Daily Mirror, Daily Star and Metro.
In so doing, they overturned their previous plans to give pictorial pride of place to the Duchess of Cambridge and her son in Australia.In so doing, they overturned their previous plans to give pictorial pride of place to the Duchess of Cambridge and her son in Australia.
Almost every other paper (with the notable exceptions of The Independent and the Financial Times) carried front page pictures and articles about Peaches.Almost every other paper (with the notable exceptions of The Independent and the Financial Times) carried front page pictures and articles about Peaches.
Every editor, I noted, avoided the temptation to speculate on the cause of her death, respectfully repeating the statement issued by the police.Every editor, I noted, avoided the temptation to speculate on the cause of her death, respectfully repeating the statement issued by the police.
Most of the articles nosed off on Bob Geldof's statement, and the headline writers (at the Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and Daily Mail) also relied on his words: "We are beyond pain."Most of the articles nosed off on Bob Geldof's statement, and the headline writers (at the Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian and Daily Mail) also relied on his words: "We are beyond pain."
I thought Metro's front page bordered on tastelessness. It used the picture Peaches had posted on Twitter of herself, as a baby, in her mother's arms with the headline, "Together again." The Sun did roughly the same inside, using the same picture and the headline, "With mum."I thought Metro's front page bordered on tastelessness. It used the picture Peaches had posted on Twitter of herself, as a baby, in her mother's arms with the headline, "Together again." The Sun did roughly the same inside, using the same picture and the headline, "With mum."
The Sun, with seven pages, devoted most space to the story. But its main articles were readable and, in the circumstances, reasonable pieces of work. It stuck, in the main, to facts.The Sun, with seven pages, devoted most space to the story. But its main articles were readable and, in the circumstances, reasonable pieces of work. It stuck, in the main, to facts.
Elsewhere, there were instances of speculation about her state of mind, such as the Mail's piece, ""She never got over losing Paula at 11", but it was a sensible assessment of what Peaches had said and written about the subject.Elsewhere, there were instances of speculation about her state of mind, such as the Mail's piece, ""She never got over losing Paula at 11", but it was a sensible assessment of what Peaches had said and written about the subject.
By far the most surprising article was the Telegraph's formal obituary, which was an excellent piece of work given the available time frame. Although it was placed below the one for Mickey Rooney, it was longer and the contrast between the two illustrated the nature of modern celebrity as opposed to that of old Hollywood.By far the most surprising article was the Telegraph's formal obituary, which was an excellent piece of work given the available time frame. Although it was placed below the one for Mickey Rooney, it was longer and the contrast between the two illustrated the nature of modern celebrity as opposed to that of old Hollywood.
Peaches, it began, "was a journalist, model and television presenter. But her chief occupation was being Peaches Geldof, daughter of the celebrities Bob Geldof and Paula Yates. This was by no means an easy task."Peaches, it began, "was a journalist, model and television presenter. But her chief occupation was being Peaches Geldof, daughter of the celebrities Bob Geldof and Paula Yates. This was by no means an easy task."
It went on to describe the progress of a young woman raised in the shadow of celebrified parents, one of whom died when she was 11. In trying to come to terms with fame, she struggled to find both a role for herself and an anchor for her life, as her dabbling with various religions appeared to show. Of all the articles in today's national newspapers, it was the best read.It went on to describe the progress of a young woman raised in the shadow of celebrified parents, one of whom died when she was 11. In trying to come to terms with fame, she struggled to find both a role for herself and an anchor for her life, as her dabbling with various religions appeared to show. Of all the articles in today's national newspapers, it was the best read.
Inevitably, we are bound to ask why a 25-year-old woman should engender so much coverage. What is it about our 2014 news values that dictated such a response?Inevitably, we are bound to ask why a 25-year-old woman should engender so much coverage. What is it about our 2014 news values that dictated such a response?
Yes, celebrity, is at its heart. It is also the case that when people die young and unexpectedly the uniqueness of the event affects the coverage.Yes, celebrity, is at its heart. It is also the case that when people die young and unexpectedly the uniqueness of the event affects the coverage.
But when we stand back from this in, say, a year's time, it is highly likely that we journalists will reflect on whether the media response was over the top.But when we stand back from this in, say, a year's time, it is highly likely that we journalists will reflect on whether the media response was over the top.