A Current Affair and Today Tonight: How low can they go?

pasag · 22-02-2007, 04:13 AM

Haha, Frontline anyone?

Quote:

Chain stunt truth unlocked

A Today Tonight reporter will learn his fate today after a stunt, involving an 84-year-old grandmother chaining herself up in a nursing home, forced the show to apologise for misleading viewers.

On Tuesday night, the current affairs show's host Anna Coren had told viewers about an "extraordinary situation that's reached boiling point".

"As we go to air tonight, this 84-year-old grandmother remains locked up in her nursing home room chained to a cupboard. So what has she done to deserve this?"

As Coren introduced reporter Nicolas Boot's story, viewers were shown footage of the chained-up woman standing in her room with the aid of two walking sticks.

The only catch was that Boot himself had brought the chains along to the woman's aged-care facility, something he failed to mention in his report.

But such was the shocking nature of the story that the following morning the federal Department of Health and Ageing sent officers to her Willoughby retirement facility to investigate.

"Once pictures were aired with a resident chained up, naturally the department sent officials to the home to ensure that the resident was safe and well and that her rights weren't being infringed," Malcolm Cole, a spokesman for the Minister for Ageing, Santo Santoro, told theage.com.au.

It was only then that Today Tonight's story started to unravel.

"When they arrived there, the lady wasn't chained up," Mr Cole said.

"As I understand it, the department officers asked her where the chains were and she advised that the television crew had brought them and then taken them away again."

Last night Coren was forced to make an on-air apology, blaming the stuff-up on Boot's unfortunate creative initiative.

"Now we need to set the record straight," she said.

"Last night we featured a report on 84-year-old Shirley Frey, a nursing home resident locked in a battle with the operators of the home. That battle continues.

"We reported that Shirley was living chained to her room. In fact, this is not the case.

"Today Tonight reporter Nicolas Boot took the chain with him to illustrate the fact Shirley felt like a prisoner in her room.

"We regret the actions of this journalist and are investigating the matter internally.

"We apologise to our viewers if you felt misled."

A profile about Boot on Today Tonight's website says: "Nicolas has spent much of his reporting career exposing scams and making people accountable for their actions."

But it might be Boot himself who is held accountable for his latest story.

Channel Seven's head of news and current affairs, Peter Meakin, said Boot had made a "bad call" and the network did not tolerate such conduct.

He said the reporter would be given a chance to explain himself today and a decision on his future employment with Today Tonight would be known soon.

"When we found out what had happened, we decided to come clean with our audience because they're the people we have our first responsibility to," Mr Meakin said.

FaaipDeOiad · 22-02-2007, 04:14 AM

That's ****ing terrible. Those shows really make me feel ill sometimes. It's the absolute bottom of humanity.

Simon · 22-02-2007, 04:15 AM

Typical Australian journalisim tbh, I'd hardly say it's a shock but it doesnt make it any less disturbing...

alternative · 22-02-2007, 04:16 AM

Actually saw that today and i hate the program with a passion.

vic_orthdox · 22-02-2007, 04:20 AM

Great news for all involved.

Craig · 22-02-2007, 04:30 AM

Well look what happened last week.

Every week or 2nd week is about the latest 'fashion and way's to save money when buying stuff on-line etc'., it is nothing more then a tacky editing and re-wording.

andyc · 22-02-2007, 04:53 AM

Worst ****ing shows

dontcloseyoureyes · 22-02-2007, 05:11 AM

Hahahahahahaahahahahaha

pasag · 22-02-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontcloseyoureyes

Hahahahahahaahahahahaha

Haha yeah, my reaction exactley, I didn't react in shock or horror, I just started laughing heaps.

Matt79 · 22-02-2007, 05:30 AM

When you consistently make A Current Affair look like a classy, up-market show, you have to know that you're scraping bottom.

Some of the stuff that Today Tonight pulls would never have made it onto Frontline because they would have thought it was too stupid even for a satire.

AussieDominance · 22-02-2007, 12:16 PM

Shocking from Today Tonight.

Son Of Coco · 22-02-2007, 03:22 PM

It was kind of ironic that A Current Affair jumped all over it and tried to make a joke out of poor journalism. We must only be a weekend away from the next Muslim story...or a "The Sharks Are Coming To Get Us". No, hang on, that was last night!

16 tins of Spam · 22-02-2007, 05:00 PM

Another reason why I'm glad I don't live in Australia anymore (no offence to all you aussies).

ABC's Media Watch is an excellent counterpoint to TT's garbage though. Shame no-one watches the ABC

Craig · 22-02-2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16 tins of Spam

Another reason why I'm glad I don't live in Australia anymore (no offence to all you aussies).

ABC's Media Watch is an excellent counterpoint to TT's garbage though. Shame no-one watches the ABC

If Little Britian is back on, I watch.

16 tins of Spam · 22-02-2007, 05:46 PM

ABC's ratings dropped significantly after I left the country.

22-02-2007, 04:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
FaaipDeOiad Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Australia Posts: 18,682	That's ****ing terrible. Those shows really make me feel ill sometimes. It's the absolute bottom of humanity. __________________ I know a place where a royal flush Can never beat a pair

22-02-2007, 04:16 AM	#4 (permalink)
alternative Cricket Web Content Updater Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 11,075	Actually saw that today and i hate the program with a passion. __________________ Member of the AAAS Member of CW Green \| Stedingham Jets Grade Cricket Team \| Northside Power Manager of South Australia (WCC) Winner of AFL Tipping 2006 \| Winner of Wimbeldon Prediction 2006

22-02-2007, 05:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
dontcloseyoureyes BARNES OUT Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: WILDCARD, BITCHES Posts: 27,714	Hahahahahahaahahahahaha __________________ The one, the only CW Black Code: 47.3 W Coppinger to Heads Smacked the ball straight into the groin of Iwuajoku who has fallen over, miraculously with the ball still caught in his scrotal area! Out! TO OUR FOREFATHERS

22-02-2007, 03:22 PM	#12 (permalink)
Son Of Coco Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,059	It was kind of ironic that A Current Affair jumped all over it and tried to make a joke out of poor journalism. We must only be a weekend away from the next Muslim story...or a "The Sharks Are Coming To Get Us". No, hang on, that was last night! __________________ "What is this what is this who is this guy shouting what is this going on in here?" - CP. (re: psxpro) R.I.P Craigos, you were a champion bloke. One of the best *R.I.P Fardin 'Bob' Qayyumi* Member of the Church of the Holy Glenn McGrath

22-02-2007, 05:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
16 tins of Spam International Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 3,534	Another reason why I'm glad I don't live in Australia anymore (no offence to all you aussies). ABC's Media Watch is an excellent counterpoint to TT's garbage though. Shame no-one watches the ABC __________________ Member of the Newtown Cricket Club since January '06 - "Per commissum ad taberna" Honorary Vice-President of the "Twenty20 Is Boring Society"

22-02-2007, 04:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Simon Request Your Custom Title Now! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 25,596	Typical Australian journalisim tbh, I'd hardly say it's a shock but it doesnt make it any less disturbing...

22-02-2007, 04:20 AM	#5 (permalink)
vic_orthdox Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 24,366	Great news for all involved.

22-02-2007, 12:16 PM	#11 (permalink)
AussieDominance Banned Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 3,746	Shocking from Today Tonight.

22-02-2007, 05:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
16 tins of Spam International Regular Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 3,534	ABC's ratings dropped significantly after I left the country.

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