Nancy Grace: Are Television Personalities Ignoring Their Responsibilities?
Nothing seems to be off limits when it comes to finding fodder for reality television and talk shows. Ratings take precedence over responsibility to the viewing public. When dealing with the very real lives of everyday people, television hosts have a duty that seems to get shrugged off every now and then. Nance Grace skirted her responsibility to Melinda Duckett under the guise of moral indignation.
The young mother wanted to bring attention to the disappearance of her son, Trenton. She wanted help. In good faith, she did the interview with that hope. What did she get? What she got was an in-your-face cross-examination by Nancy Grace. When the interview went public, would people think that her neglect led to her son's disappearance? Would Grace's opinions cloud the issues?
In the disappearance of a child or spouse, the family members are the first to be suspected. Everyone knows that. Police investigators have to ask tough questions and follow up every lead to eliminate the family members. Surely, Melinda Duckett had already been through all that with the police.
Nancy Grace forgot that, in this country, people are presumed innocent until proven guilty and not the other way around. Just because family members are the first suspects, doesn't mean that they actually committed the crime in question. Feelings of guilt don't add up to that either.
Now, Melinda Duckett is dead and baby Trenton is still missing. The interrogation by Nancy Grace resulted in nothing but more grief for the family. Maybe Melinda Duckett knew something and maybe she didn't. A more subtle interview could have revealed information vital to the case. Instead, an already stressed young mother was pushed over the edge.
This is not responsible journalism; it is reckless. Despite what the quotation says, names and labels do hurt and people are influenced by what they see on television. The police announced later that Melinda Duckett was a suspect, but did Nancy Grace stop to consider what would happen if Melinda Duckett was proven innocent? There has been no trial. What would she then say to the person she tried and convicted in front of the entire country based on her personal views of their case?
The trick with opinions is to know when to suspend them in the name of ethical judgment. These television hosts have gone too far and something needs to be done. When they get out of control it is our moral character that suffers.
Published by Garnet Miller
Garnet is a parttime freelance writer.She has published in Cross-Times & 3 FaithWriters anthologies.She has been managing editor and written 2 columns for Extreme Women magazine.Her main focus is ghostwritin... View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentIs this just limited to television personalities? I am not sure who this person is, but I assume he is a personality of some kind. In our country, do you have the right to invade another person's privacy via the Internet? In the Florida tragedy, this personality gave out a "wrong address" via the Interenet. I understand he did indeed offer an apology and financial restitution. If the family at the "wrong address" were harmed in any way, could this personality be brought up on criminal charges? To me, the impact of his decision was far more powerful than he could have ever imagined. What if the shoe were on the other foot?
I find it interesting that she doesn't want camera's on while she is in court. I feel that she is a very troubled person. How does she go home and tuck her twins in bed knowing some day she will have to explain to them how she made a living. Does she tell them I made a living by destroying other people's lives because of my opinion and my opinion is all that counts. Innocent until proven guilty for some reason doesn't appear to apply to her standards of practices. I never believed casey anthony killed her daughter and from the beginning I felt her father had something to do with it. Now this is just my opinion but let's look at the evidence. The real evidence, not what nancy grace wanted you to hear and believe but what was proven in court. I feel like casey was afraid of her father and she was protecting him. Did he do something to cause her death? He's an ex police officer and he knows how the system works, how to act and what to say on the stand. I don't
JUSTICE was not served yesterday for caylee marie anthony. What a shame when we can let go a person who deliberatly wrapped her baby in a blanket pumt her in two plastic garbage bags and another laundry bag,m but oh wait before doing so taped her mouth and nose. And what do we do, we set her free. Well casey anthonyn, may u never have that 'bella vita' u so desired. may everyday be a grim reminder of the picture shown in court of your skeletonized babyn girl, becaumse this us what u did to her. You are no mother, u are a monster.
hahaaaa. f$ck you nancy grace. yes we know she did it but your big fat mouth was proven wrong. go f!st yourself!
I enjoyed reading your piece. I feel people are often tried and convicted by the media before a case comes to trial (e.g. Scott Petersen), and Nancy Grace seems to think she's qualified to do so.