DJS pilloried
Re: “DJs behind royal hoax apologize,” Dec. 11.
The media’s and public’s reaction to the tragic death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha is predictable and deplorable. Aside from the lack of attention given to the nurse, we have focused on demonizing the two Australian DJs and their innocuous prank call as the sole reason for her untimely death.
Some privacy laws may have been compromised in the phone call, but the act itself is a staple of popular radio in the western media.
While it seems near impossible to watch, read or listen to the news without hearing of civil unrest and barbarism committed against other human beings because of small disputes, we find it perfectly acceptable to spew hatred, death threats and unfair blame on two DJs who never intended to harm anyone.
After Saldanha’s death, the hospital and Buckingham Palace offered their sympathies and confirmed they had offered their full support to the Duchess’s nurse following the prank call. The same cannot be said about DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian. While the support Saldanha received came tragically too late, the public has not recognized its own role in the mental well-being of these DJs.
Rather than treat this story as a set of terribly unfortunate circumstances, we attempt to turn one tragedy into another.
Mourn Jacintha, but let’s not also mourn the loss of livelihood and quality of life of the DJs. If this is indeed the case, we need also to mourn the loss of human decency and compassion.
Justin Wollin, Calgary