Whitehaven - The media frenzy

(This article forms part of a larger report about Samaritans' response to the Derrick Bird shooting tragedy in Whitehaven in June 2010.)

Samaritans’ head office got its first call from the media on Thursday, and by the end of the evening Steve had already completed two live interviews to reassure the local community that Samaritans would be there to support them.

Steve was not only a local man affected by the trauma, but he could also talk about Samaritans, its role in the epicentre of the chaos, and its ability to provide local support.

On Friday, the media frenzy really hit and Steve was inundated with requests from the press camped out on Duke Street. Each time Steve tried to get to his car, another journalist approached him.

According to Steve’s daughter, young people in the area found their usual modes of communication, Twitter and Facebook, being invaded by journalists, emphasising the need for the branch to provide a private space to talk.

Steve being interviewed in Whitehaven

When Samaritans volunteers went out at the weekend to talk to people in the street, some found that residents were tired and resentful of the media presence. "They just want them [the media] to go away," one volunteer said, who explained that every time they saw the satellite vans or a journalist approaching them to comment, it was a constant reminder that something bad had happened.

As Steve's interviews were broadcast, the branch began to receive calls related to the shootings. The service offered by Samaritans and the West Cumbria branch got a huge amount of publicity as a result of Steve being immediately available and willing to speak to the press.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/10239963.stm

Return to main report about Samaritans' response to the shootings in Whitehaven

If you've been affected by any of the issues raised by the incident in Cumbria, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day if you want to talk to someone.

Across the UK, you can call Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland) email jo@samaritans.org, or write to Samaritans at Chris, PO Box 9090, Stirling, FK8 2SA. Find out more about contacting Samaritans.