Seven News has been caught in hot water after it removed a Facebook comment written by a mother slamming the program for its coverage of her daughter's death.
The news program has written an apology on its Facebook page, saying the comments were removed “in error”.
Seven News removed a comment written by Linda Goldspink-Lord, the mother of Molly Lord who was killed in a quad bike accident. The aggrieved mother wrote a damning comment about Seven's coverage of her daughter's death.
The mother's comment said: “I am the mother of the beautiful Molly Lord who was killed on a quad bike last week. I would just like to let everyone know of the pain and harassment we suffered as a result of channel 7.
“A reporter was on our private property very soon after the accident and whilst Molly was still on the ground. He walked up to the house down to the stables anywhere looking for a story. I went outside at some point to go to her horse for some comfort when the channel 7 helicopter flew above me trying to get footage.
“My husband was overseas at the time of the accident but footage of myself sitting with my deceased daughter was put on the channel 7 website for the world to see before I had even told all of my family. Channel 7 you are a disgrace and what should have been a private moment between a mother and get (sic) daughter was exploited for the sake of an exclusive story. You bastards.”
Seven News deleted the comment from the Facebook page, but has since issued an apology on the page. Director of News Chris Wills wrote in a statement: “Ms Goldspink-Lord’s comments were removed from our site in error. We apologise for that.
“Taking into account her understandable distress over the coverage of Molly’s death, I did ask for the footage to be taken down. That happened but unfortunately her remarks were deleted as well.
“They are now being restored to our Facebook page.
“I would also like to stress that we have re-examined our reports into Molly’s tragic death and can find no video showing Ms Goldspink-Lord hugging her daughter.
“We were not the only television station to visit the family’s property. Our reporter did go to the house but left immediately he was told the family wished to make no comment.
“Our reporters and camera crews know that grieving families have to be approached with sensitivity and compassion.”
Under the statement, a number of negative comments have already been left. One says: “YOU ARE DISGUSTING CHANNEL SEVEN. The ONLY reason you have posted this is because of the backlash you have received!! Too late in my books the damage is done!!! BOTTOM FEEDERS!”
Another says: “Disgusting display of opportunistic greed on your behalf channel 7! an exclusive obviously comes before a grieving mother. SCUM! You make the phone hacking scandal look like a walk in the park. Congratulations on tainting the australian image and shattering a broken womans heart.”
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