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According to Kelvin McKenzie, ex-editor of The Sun, having the
McCanns on the front page of a newspaper means the paper
will sell up to 15,000 more copies. The McCanns are a
major cash cow for newspapers and they have been used
shamelessly.
Any exploitation has been a two-way street. The McCanns have used
the papers to spread their story and the papers have
used the McCanns to sell copies. This Faustian pact
served their interests for a long while, the problem is
that when you do a deal with the devil you tend to lose
your soul.
Even if they are used to sell newspapers, the fact that the sales
volume increases is because people are interested in the
ongoing story. The fact that people are interested does
not mean that they regard the McCanns of playing the
media and does not mean they are any less sympathetic.
The McCanns were sympathetic at first, only a monster would be
unmoved by the plight of grieving parents. However, as
we’ve learnt more about them they’ve become more
unlikeable and doubts have emerged about their own
conduct. The media haven’t needed to do any knocking
down, the McCanns have shown themselves quite capable of
providing enough material to criticise them as it is.
Her parents have been complicit in their own downfall. They are the
ones who left their three small children alone while
they could eat and drink in peace. No good parent would
even think about doing such a thing and whilst it in no
way excuses the taking of Madeleine it does account for
some of the lack of sympathy the public feel towards her
parents.
Her parents and their PR machine have created a monster, they’ve
clamoured for every bit of press that was going,
supposedly to get Madeleine’s face out there but in all
likelihood because they like being the centre of
attention. Having created this monster it is hardly fair
for them to complain when it turns around and bites
them.
There is something strange and unlikeable about the McCanns. People
haven’t lost sympathy for the disappearance of their
daughter for any other reason than the McCanns
themselves don’t seem to deserve any. Kate is far too
aloof and Gerry too professional. They also have a
strong whiff of suspicion hanging around them |
