Frown for the camera

I barely watch the television news any more. I get my news from the BBC website and occasionally Twitter, where the social-micro-bloggy platform really comes into its own, amidst all the chatter about what's currently on television or how hot Justin Bieber is.

I'm sure by now most of you are aware of Anuj Bidve, the teenager who was murdered on Boxing Day in Salford. Before I continue, may I just say I have nothing but sympathy for his family. To lose a loved one, especially your child, in such a senseless and violent way, must rock your world to the very core and is one of the hardest things I can imagine ever having to deal with. I genuinely respect Anuj's parents for being brave enough to be able to talk to the media circus that has descended on the murder scene.

What I don't have respect for is the fact that the camera crews are there in the first place. I understand initially reporting the murder and showing us where it took place, but 9 times out of 10, the news always has a follow-up story, saying something like "The parents of (murder victim) have visited the scene where their body was found". What is the point in this? What is the story here? "Here is the News at Ten - BONG!- Parents devastated over murdered child"? I don't know why we have to see this. What scares me most of all is that we accept this as "what the news does".

Say if a close family member of mine had been found strangled in a hedgerow, I can't even begin to imagine how I'd feel. What I can say for certain though is that I wouldn't want a dozen or so cameras pointed at me whilst the grim reality of it all sank in. What's worse is that I'd be expected to give a sombre soundbite, saying that I was devastated at the loss, knowing full well that the headline for that night's news would be something like: "Ben Browne has said he is completely "devastated" by loss of of his family". To be honest, with that much grief and the completely surreal experience of having reporters and cameras swarming around me, I'm not sure I'd be able to come up with anything as coherent as that.

Don't get me wrong, I understand why some murders and the affected families are given exposure. It gives a human face to proceedings and may encourage eye-witnesses to come forward. However, they have press conferences for that, where the parents literally appeal for the public's help. Grief is and should be a private thing. To film it, edit it and slap it into a slick news package for no good reason actually sickens me.