The family of Nicola Bulley, whose body was discovered in the River Wyre in Lancashire on Sunday, has criticised the behaviour of certain media and social media outlets during the last three weeks of her disappearance. They have requested that news organisations “leave us alone for now.”
Baroness Wheatcroft, the former editor of the Sunday Telegraph, has urged the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) to “show that it really has teeth” and investigate how the disappearance of Nicola Bulley was reported. She stated that there was “every reason for people to be extremely upset” and that, as a former editor of a newspaper, she would always hope that her reporters respected those with whom they dealt.
Former Hacked Off campaign director Evan Harris stated that while it is difficult to regulate individuals on social media, newspapers can and should be regulated. Stewart Purvis, former editor-in-chief of ITN and senior executive at Ofcom, added that the issue of how the media should approach the families of those who have suffered is an ongoing one.
The family statement also criticised Sky News and ITV for contacting them despite their requests for privacy. Both organisations declined to comment when contacted by the BBC, but it is understood that ITV News believed Ms. Bulley’s family would engage with the media until a family member refused to speak with them. Sky News maintained an ongoing dialogue with the family.
The investigation into Ms. Bulley’s disappearance had sparked a great deal of internet conspiracy theories. Even members of the public conducted their own searches at St. Michael’s on Wyre and posted the results on social media. Mr. Ansell became the subject of criticism, with some falsely accusing him of her disappearance.
Press intrusion into Nicola Bulley’s family’s grief has compounded the tragedy of her disappearance. While social media networks have made life difficult for traditional news organisations in recent weeks, their behaviour has also been criticised. The conclusion of the family’s statement was a simple request: “Leave us alone now.”
The death of Nicola Bulley has shed light on press regulation and how the media should approach the families of those who have suffered. Baroness Wheatcroft has demanded that IPSO “show it means business” by taking action regarding the manner in which her disappearance was reported. Stewart Purvis believes that if news outlets had a justification for their actions, they would have already made it public. Sky News and ITV both declined to comment after the BBC contacted them.
