Photo by Michael Lawson
Who's idea was it to allow local media to video Rev. Dingwall's funeral? Now look, this is just my own personal opinion but if you or I wouldn't take a camera into our own family members funeral, a move like this has to be the lowest of the bottom feeders.
We have watched for days now local media covering this story day after day. Yes, it is extremely unfortunate. Yes, this man was truly loved and respected in his community. But are we today supposed to allow this as the new "norm"? If so, well, I guess we'll just have to learn to accept it. However, do the people involved in this decision making realize these media outlets are actually making money off such an event?
To me, a Church is sacred ground. I can see covering the event from the outside, showing the public it was well attended but that's about it.
My thinking is, IF the Family feels they'd like to offer a video of the funeral because some couldn't be there they can do so through a link with the Church or Funeral Home.
I'd love to hear your opinion on this matter...
28 comments:
I see no problem with this. He was a man loved by many and so many people could not attend due to being elderly, sick or whatever reason, but felt they still wanted to say their last goodbye to him.
Anonymous 8:11, Funeral Homes now offer this service on line. Outlets like the Daily Times has the entire funeral on their Site. Perhaps the Funeral Homes should get royalties for each funeral?
I should add, perhaps those royalties could be credited to the Family and those funeral expenses.
I agree with Mr Albero. I feel it is a private time. The news media should not be there.
Don't believe media should have gone this far. I know he was a well loved and respected gentleman in the community, however, the media needs to back off and let the family/community grieve without a camera there at all times.
it is perfectly acceptable and has been for years
No media ever for me--not that I would get any. Private period
WBOC went overboard airing this every day.
I'm not sure how it's done around here, but the protocol normally is the media contacts the funeral home, who in turn relays the request to the immediate family of the deceased for permission to film and broadcast.
anonymous 8:44, I think we ALL understand that. I couldn't imagine local media just walking in the door without permission.
The question is, is this the new norm?
The idea here is to get a feel for how we as a community HERE feel about it.
I can see coverage of a death of a President, a Martin Luther King and so forth. Who and how do we judge who should or shouldn't get covered by local media?
I would think that IF someone were important enough HERE that the majority would simply attend the funeral, if possible.
We have unfortunately had many big names pass away here on the Shore and I simply cannot recall local media inside the Mass.
The other question I sort of presented being my own opinion was that I felt a Church was sacred ground. Is that changing?
Did the local media cover the first gay marriage here on the Shore? Will they cover the first kiss when they announce you are now husband and husband or wife and wife?
When and where does it start and end and what is or isn't acceptable???
I see no problem with covering the event. It portrays the outpouring of support and grief in the community. But if a family member would request that cameras not be at (or in) the church, then that should certainly be respected.
What really does bother me is the situation where a reporter at a homicide crime scene jams a microphone into the face of a family member of the victim and asking some inane "...and how do you feel...?" question.
One other thing on the funeral: A 13 year-old kid with a cell phone could've taken better footage than what was aired on WBOC. It was horrible. Sadly, this sort of amateur coverage - filming - editing - presentation - is par for the course for both our local stations.
Anon 8:53AM, waaa waaa waaa!
First kiss. That's a good one Joe.
Tragic yes! News worthy certainly for the first 2 days. A weeks worth of reporting and then live from the funeral? Certainly I am aware Presidents and other prominent officials have state funerals with this type of coverage when given to a funeral resulting from a local tragedy is not a state funeral type of event and these folks had their privacy invaded by not one reporter, but two from one news team? Enough is enough allow people to grieve. What's next? Funeral TV.?
And WBOC talking about the charred remains of the reverend was inappropriate. They do not need to go into that much detail.
I see no problem with broadcasting a funeral, as long as it is done respectfully. Things like airing the procession of vehicles on a roadway is acceptable and legal.
Entering a funeral home, unless approved by the family would not be okay with me. Same as airing the service at graveside if approved by the family. In the event it is not approved by the family at graveside, it still might be okay, albeit in bad taste. At a respectable distance from the service could be okay, but I would hope they at least first contact the family and get their feelings on this.
Funerals are an emotional time. There is no telling how some people may react to such a thing as cameras capturing people's sorrow and the passing of a loved one.
I think that should be on a case by case platform. No blanket 'intrusion' on people's grief.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Anon 8:53AM, waaa waaa waaa!
December 4, 2013 at 8:58 AM
Don't you have some wings to pull off flies or something? Maybe robbing a blind persons' cane or seeing eye dog?
I don't like to insult people on here, or anywhere for that matter, but you have really earned the title of IDIOT.
Congrats.
Does everyone's funeral get aired? Or just this guy?Should be all or none... he isn't/wasn't special.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Does everyone's funeral get aired? Or just this guy?Should be all or none... he isn't/wasn't special.
December 4, 2013 at 12:34 PM
He was special to some people you jack ass. And if the family does not want it aired, it shouldn't be.
I feel it was all talked about way to long enough is enough im sure he was loved by many but not everyone may feel the same way about him.. and to see it for a week on the news was way over board.. This is my opinion and I will not change it or listen to any back lash..
I feel it was all talked about way to long enough is enough im sure he was loved by many but not everyone may feel the same way about him.. and to see it for a week on the news was way over board.. This is my opinion and I will not change it or listen to any back lash..
12:34-It's not that he was special, but more he died a tragic death. It's not uncommon for the media to follow through to the funeral, when someone is murdered. In this case, the deceased was also a public person not too mention the bizarre story behind his death, so there is more interest. I personally see nothing wrong with it as long as family is agreeable.
If people thought he was so great than they should praise him in private not shove it down every-ones throat over and over and over again.. how about the families of the others involved where are those families rights. Has anyone thought they may not want it to be replayed over again.. how about if the guy that started the fire had kids somewhere is it fair for them to see the video of their loved one walking out of the store? OVER AND OVER AGAIN. This guy got more publicity than President Kennedy
Well my loved ones are special to me.. but do you want to see their funeral on TV? just sayin... Sometimes things go way overboard.
I don't even quite understand why "Anon at 8:58" considered that person's comment whining. Is there really anyone who thinks that local news coverage is good - or even passable? Inane (forced) adlib chatting... Uninteresting content... And the one that really gets me: Five or six minutes on high school sports events that even the STUDENTS don't attend! How can they possibly think that anyone is interested when there is only a handful of people watching the game live?
Maybe I'm whining, too. Sorry.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Well my loved ones are special to me.. but do you want to see their funeral on TV? just sayin... Sometimes things go way overboard.
December 4, 2013 at 2:08 PM
I doubt very many will watch a funeral broadcast unless they knew the person or the family.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
If people thought he was so great than they should praise him in private not shove it down every-ones throat over and over and over again.. how about the families of the others involved where are those families rights. Has anyone thought they may not want it to be replayed over again.. how about if the guy that started the fire had kids somewhere is it fair for them to see the video of their loved one walking out of the store? OVER AND OVER AGAIN. This guy got more publicity than President Kennedy
December 4, 2013 at 1:40 PM
There is such a thing as changing the channel or turning off the tv. Have you ever missed a tv show and wished they played it again so you could see it?
How about people who knew the family but could not make it to the funeral? Maybe this was their only chance to see it. And it is a news story. Ever heard of updates? Continuing coverage? Correcting previous mistakes? No one is forcing anyone to watch it. Why do people like you always try to force others to do what you want?
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I feel it was all talked about way to long enough is enough im sure he was loved by many but not everyone may feel the same way about him.. and to see it for a week on the news was way over board.. This is my opinion and I will not change it or listen to any back lash..
December 4, 2013 at 1:32 PM
I doubt if anyone cares if you change your opinion or not. And if you don't want to hear 'backlash', you better not come here again because you most certainly will get some.
Personally I don't know how many times a funeral was aired or how long it was aired because, guess what, I didn't watch it.
I hope none of the families are reading any of these comments. They have enough to deal with with the loss of a loved one to have to hear such disrespectful and selfish comments.
Stay classy.
1:40-If you feel like the coverage was "shoved down your throat" it was by your own shoving then. Absolutely nothing prevented you from refraining from watching the news. Common sense dictates when and if, you've had it with something you refrain from putting yourself in a situation where you will be in contact with it.
As far as "rights" families have none. Only those directly involved have "rights" and when something happens that involve law enforcement, it becomes public information. The best thing for any concerned family member to do is to not watch the news for awhile.
The media should have ignored the entire event from start to finish.The best way to avoid public scrutiny is to completely sidestep a story.
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