To the point: tabloid idiots
The story isn't exactly fresh off the press, but even after ten days, it's still sparking countless opinions, spiteful blog posts, and comments—ranging from borderline to downright idiotic—for and against those posts, as well as gasping for breath among those who are alwaysget annoyed by the tabloids anyway. Once again, it’s all about a typical tabloid campaign.
The "Petarden-Trottel". That's what Blick called him. They are talking about a young man who either picked up a petard at the FCZA away game or set one off himself. Which is true, one does not know exactly. He was injured, three fingers were blown off. A feast for the tabloids. One can now discuss for a long time whether the expression "petard fool" is appropriate or not, opinions differ. Peter Studer, the former president of the Press Council, told the Basel daily Tageswoche about the term "Petarden-Trottel": "After reading it, I have to say: The unnamed young man is indeed a fool." He is right.
But a tabloid campaign has to be continued, every day something new has to be brought. One finds a photo where he shows five fingers (probably from Facebook). Every non-Blick reader can imagine a snappy caption, you find his father, who - what a happy tabloid coincidence - is a school psychologist, and you also interview his work colleagues.
Now it's no longer about the jerk, but about the pillory. Because finding out the young man's name and where his parents live doesn't require any sophisticated research. Anyone can do it. The vice president of the Press Council, Esther Diener-Morscher, commented (also in Tageswoche): "I find the pillorying function of Blick questionable. The court is responsible for punishing this man, the additional punishment by the media is unnecessary." And Peter Studer also believes that reporting is only unobjectionable under media law as long as the young man and his relatives cannot be identified. Which is certainly not the case in this specific instance. The matter escalates, the other side strikes and defames and threatens Blick journalists with posters, handbills and text messages. Absolutely reprehensible and also not excusable by the series of petards.
But it becomes embarrassing when Blick titles a commentary on the subject thus: "We are afraid for football".
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief [email protected]
