Media Coverage of Heath Ledger's Death
Heath Ledger's untimely death has truly shocked me -- thinking about his family, his two-year-old daughter Matilda, and the fact that his career was about to blow up -- is devastating.
Though Heath is a movie actor, there is one aspect of this news that fits in with TV Cocktail. I just read that Heath's family found out about his death through the media. How terribly sad is that?
It makes total sense: within minutes of the media finding out the news, they were all over the story. On one hand, it's a good thing, as loyal fans want to know what happened to the actor. On the other hand, what a horrible way for the family to find out about Heath's death.
What do you think? Should the news have toned down their coverage until they knew the family was aware of Heath's passing? Or is it the news's job to keep us informed?
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So sad!
NYPD have a policy of not releasing info until next of kin have been notified so if not them then who did. maybe the housekeeper??
If the regular news will not release the names of gunshot wound victims until the family has been notified then the media should have kept quiet until his family knew.
If the "regular" news has to wait to notify the family members of Gun shot victims etc than I am a strong believer that the media should have had respect for the Ledger family and made daouble sure that they knew of Heath's passing before they shared it with the world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
Sad to hear his death. I saw his profile on millionaire dating site called W e a l t h yR o m a n c e.c o m last week. I will ask that webmaster to delete his profile right away.
Sadly, those police scanners can be picked up by so many people and often people get paid for this kind of information. I think it explains (though does not excuse) why 911 wasn't called immediately. This was news and people were tripping over themselves to break it. I feel so sorry for that family. I remember reading that Tracy Nelson heard the news of her father's death the same way: driving in her car, over the radio. Shameful. R.I.P. and Godspeed, Heath. My condolences to his family and loved ones.
I am truly sorry for the loss of Health
Ledger. He seems so caring and loving and a good dad. I found out about my ex-deputy husband;s death on the T.V. The Metro train crash on Jan. 26th 2005.
It shocked the .... out of me and I fell to the ground and then my children
called me about their dad. The news
and media are always on top of everything first, and I guess it is their job however, it hurts when family and friends find out cold heartily about a loved one... Goodbye, Heath