POST-graduate journalism student, Patrick McPartlin, from Edinburgh Napier University, casts his eye over the media stories making it into today’s newspapers…
It’s something of a slow news day regarding media stories in the press this morning, with the most focus being placed on an EastEnders storyline broadcast over the festive period which has attracted a number of complaints.
Says The Herald (page 4), some 3,400 complaints have been made to the BBC in the aftermath of the New Year’s Eve episode concerning baby cot death, during which, character, Ronnie Branning – played by Samantha Womack – snatches the newborn son of Kat Moon following the death of her own child hours after birth.
The Herald notes the BBC saying it had worked closely with the Foundation for The Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) in order to make the story realistic.
The Scottish Daily Express (page 9) is also on the case, echoing the number of complaints made and additionally reporting the creation of Facebook pages in opposition to the long-running soap, along with the news that broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, is due to reveal how many complaints it has received about the programme.
The Scottish Daily Mail goes one step further, (page 25) and is reporting that Ofcom received around 200 objections, in addition to almost 3,500 BBC complaints, and points out that this is only the second time that EastEnders has been criticised for a controversial storyline – the BBC received 7,000 complaints in April two years ago following the death of teenage character, Danielle Jones – played by actress, Lauren Crace – who was run over by a car moments after learning that Ronnie Branning was her mother.
The Daily Record quotes the soap’s executive producer Bryan Kirkwood, as saying: “We appreciate this is a challenging storyline and have taken care to ensure viewers were aware of the content in advance of transmission.” The story makes the front page of The Scottish Sun’s television supplement, TV Biz, repeating a version of Kirkwood’s response, and the number of complaints received.
The Guardian, meanwhile, reports that trespass charges have been dropped against two documentary filmmakers who were arrested after visiting the Aberdeenshire estate earmarked for a luxury golf course by business tycoon, Donald Trump.
And finally, The Herald (page 4) reports that former Real Radio presenter Robin Galloway, who was sacked following a practical joke that involved Labour leader, Ed Milliband, has joined the station’s rival, Clyde 1, where he will be presenting their Drivetime show.
The Scottish Sun is also running the story (page 3), saying that Galloway will be replacing Suzie McGuire, who now presents Clyde 1’s breakfast show. Galloway, who is also a columnist for The Sun, is reportedly not bitter about his split with Real Radio, despite allegedly calling his former bosses “prudish”. But he is quoted as saying: “I will be doing my best to trounce them in the ratings.”
