The case of 4-year-old Ani Borisova has provoked many and various reactions both in Greece and in Bulgaria. The media in the two neighbouring countries are continuing to report on every detail of the developments. The terrible crime has been at the centre of public attention for weeks. In this connection, we asked you, “Do you approve of how the media are covering the case of missing 4-year-old Ani Borisova?”
As usual, we start with the responses to the poll on the Bulgarian page of our site. The majority of readers support the view that, led by the desire to be sensational, the media have gone beyond all bounds. 45% of respondents clearly express their view that the media turn even the greatest tragedy into a media event. In contrast, 26% of our readers think that the crime is so horrific that there is no way to hide the details from public attention. 21% trust the media and think that not all media are yellow and readers can choose where to be informed. 8% of our readers have lost confidence in the independence of media, believing that the authorities dictate their behaviour.
The readers’ vote on the English page of our site is radically different. 46% have confidence in media reservedness and in the quality of information that they have reported in this case. Two options rank second in popularity, each of which has 21% of the readers' votes. The first takes into account the desire of the media to be sensational. The second is associated with the horrific nature of the crime that could not hide the details from society. 13% support the view that the media act on behalf of the authorities.
On the Greek page of GRReporter, there is again a redistribution of votes. The most popular response is that the media have gone beyond all bounds in the name of ratings and sensation and it is the preference of 36% of readers. The opposite view is very close to it, by which our readers defend the media and believe that there are reserved media from which one can be informed. This response obtains 32% of the readers’ votes. The option that the nature of the crime is so staggering that the details cannot but become known by society ranks third with 18%. 14% remain for that group of readers that sees the media as an agent of ‘custom-made’ journalism in accordance with the will of those in power.
The shocking case of missing 4-year-old Ani has not only scandalized public opinion in Greece and Bulgaria, but we also see that it divides it in terms of media coverage. Readers of the English and Greek pages of GRReporter turn out to be the most sensitive to media dependence. Bulgarian readers traditionally have a high threshold of tolerance in this regard. The three language pages however demonstrate a negative attitude towards the aspiration of the media to take advantage of even the worst human tragedies. English-speaking readers are less inclined to define the case as being exploited by the media for the purposes of sensation but are more distant from it too. However, our Bulgarian and Greek readers definitely see chasing of ratings rather than serving the public interest and playing the role of media in covering the crime.
GRReporter will continue to objectively follow the case and impartially report the facts.
Our next poll is turning to the Greek crisis again and in particular, to the attitudes towards Tsipras’ government and the creditors, asking you, “Do you sympathize more with the Greek government or the creditors?” Do not forget to share your comments in the section below the poll.
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