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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

C4 to Broadcast Princess Diana Pics

I'm sure you've heard about this recent row over the death of Princess Diana. British TV station, Channel 4, has denied a request from the Royal Family asking them not to show pictures of the car in which Diana was killed, as well as pictures of her being treated by ambulance workers.

The British tabloids have long been known as the most disrespectful and harshest of all the yellow press. Channel 4 noted that it had weighed the Princes' request against public interest in the story and decided to go forward.

I'm really not sure what to think here. On the one hand, it's obviously going to hurt the Royal Family and others who were close to the late Princess; on the other, I can't argue that her death is not of public interest. The reason I'm so on the fence is because, as I've said before, the Royal Family is somewhere between politicos and celebrities. I'm not very familiar with British law, but I don't think the Royal Family holds any real political power (that's not to say they don't hold political influence, just no actual powers). They are, and have been, treated as celebrities at least during my lifetime.

Those who have seen the documentary have praised it for its delicate handling of the subject and say you cannot identify the Princess in the pictures. Part of me wants to say that it's in bad taste and they're using the controversy to boost public interest, but another part of me agrees that it is of public interest. I guess the answer will depend on exactly how the matter is handled. But I do want to point out that all of this controversy over whether or not the documentary should be shown has definitely increased the public interest Channel 4 insists gives it the right to broadcast the program.

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