Wednesday, October 21. 2009
Letter to PRWeek - Media Owners Should be More Responsible
Posted by Natalie Jackson
at
13:00
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We had another letter published in PR Week last week. Here it is in full . . .
Not wanting to bash the industry I work in and rely upon – but the level of negative coverage that the cervical cancer vaccine received last week after the (completely unrelated) tragic death of Natalie Morton was frightening.
Less than 24 hours after the sad news broke of Natalie’s death, the vaccine was cleared of having contributed in any way. Yet, up until this point the media furore was widespread and speculation as to the cause of her death rife, putting doubt into the minds of many parents who could now be too nervous to allow their daughters this lifesaving jab – despite the fact that this concern is completely unfounded. The knock on impact this coverage could have is women in the future who opted out of the vaccination or weren’t allowed to have it, could contract the disease.
I would like to see media owners being more responsible in situations like this and not scare monger until we know for certain the outcome of an investigation of a case like this. The public do have the right to know anything that could affect their health– but not at the cost of the reputation of a treatment that will save lives.
Natalie Jackson, Account Director, markettiers4dc.
Not wanting to bash the industry I work in and rely upon – but the level of negative coverage that the cervical cancer vaccine received last week after the (completely unrelated) tragic death of Natalie Morton was frightening.
Less than 24 hours after the sad news broke of Natalie’s death, the vaccine was cleared of having contributed in any way. Yet, up until this point the media furore was widespread and speculation as to the cause of her death rife, putting doubt into the minds of many parents who could now be too nervous to allow their daughters this lifesaving jab – despite the fact that this concern is completely unfounded. The knock on impact this coverage could have is women in the future who opted out of the vaccination or weren’t allowed to have it, could contract the disease.
I would like to see media owners being more responsible in situations like this and not scare monger until we know for certain the outcome of an investigation of a case like this. The public do have the right to know anything that could affect their health– but not at the cost of the reputation of a treatment that will save lives.
Natalie Jackson, Account Director, markettiers4dc.
