BBSpencer wrote:

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Um, no. They didn't elect a retarded bigot to run their country, they just enjoyed watching one.

BBC facing viewer backlash over coverage of Jade Goody's death

By Paul Revoir
Last updated at 12:56 AM on 25th March 2009

The BBC was forced to defend its coverage of Jade Goody's death after viewers complained the story was given too much prominence.

Many objected that it was the lead story on the news bulletin on The Andrew Marr Show and was covered so prominently across all its TV and radio networks.

Some said the publicly-funded broadcaster should not be reporting in such depth on stories about celebrities and claimed the death was not unexpected.

The BBC also came under fire for broadcasting it as a big story across its international news services including the World Service.

The broadcaster has received about 70 official complaints about its coverage as well as a large amount of angry reaction posted on its website.

News chief Peter Horrocks was yesterday forced to defend the broadcaster against accusations that it had gone over the top, while admitting Goody was a 'very divisive figure'.

He said the coverage had been justified because of the level of public interest in the reality star and the 'awareness of cervical cancer' raised by her death.

But he admitted that the reaction on some outlets such as Five Live had been very different to that from listeners to stations like Radio 1.

He also claimed that traffic to the broadcaster's website was above what it would normally be for a Sunday, the day she died.

But there is still anger from many members of the audience who feel the BBC should focus more on subjects like politics and global affairs.

TODAY'S POLL

Was the BBC right to lead its news bulletins with Jade Goody's death on Sunday?

No

Yes

VOTE

POLL RESULTS

Was the BBC right to lead its news bulletins with Jade Goody's death on Sunday?

• No67%
• Yes33%

One viewer said: 'You really lost the plot on this one... Start questioning those that are abusing power - expense fiddling MPs, tax avoiding-corporations, hypocritical ministers.

'Let OK, Hello and Sky deal with the frivolities of life and get back to being a public service broadcaster that serves the public by addressing the issues that matter.'

Another said: 'I have lost count of the number of interesting but terminated interviews you have on your news programmes because you have a schedule to keep to.

'And yet, for this young woman, you felt able to change your scheduling. That was in my opinion an unprofessional decision in keeping with your rapidly declining standards.'

more here - lots of people bashing the Jade coverage (in the comments)

MarleeRojas wrote:

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The British obsession with the death of Jade isn't any different the numerous obsessions in the US that happen when any celebrity dies, and I can't help but be reminded about the 4 month saga that was Anna Nicole Smith....so really, this isn't any different, the UK and the US are just as celebrity oriented as each other.