Motorsport News didn't
print my letter this week, so I took the huff. This was sent after reading
Colin Clark's column last week, and whilst I agreed with most of what he said,
I felt he had overlooked one very important fact. The press was initially
reporting that four 'spectators' had been fatally injured in two separate
accidents.
I didn't have any major problems with those
who don't understand the sport or reporters using the wrong rallying terminology,
but when they get an intrinsic fact wrong, then surely that has to be
highlighted.
This week there has been a noticeable
change in the tone of the reports emanating from the FAI. Even the most
sensation seeking reporter has realised that the circumstances surrounding the
second accident are completely different from the first and whilst the death of
one spectator is one too many, the blame for the other three should not be attributed
to the organisers or the competitors involved.
We should also pay tribute to the organisers
and volunteers who have done so much to implement the recommendations of the
Motor Sport Safety Review Group and the MSA, and also Forest Enterprise who in many
cases have gone above and beyond their obligations to help organisers create
spectator areas in our forests.
But Colin is right, real change will only
come from the spectators themselves. People must assume some responsibility for
their own actions. Sadly we live in an age where someone else is apparently
always to blame. When people walk into a forest to watch rally cars, they will
pass Notices at the entrance which state 'Motor Sport is Dangerous'. Makes you
wonder how many folk actually read them and then make their choice.
Anyway make up your own mind. There's a
copy of the column here and a copy of my letter:
--- Dear Sir/Madam/Mz,
Referring to the Fatal Accident Inquiry
currently underway in Edinburgh, Colin Clark posed the question last week:
"Perhaps we're over-sensitive to bad coverage?"
He's right - up to a point. There's a difference
between bad coverage and inaccurate coverage and I think that's what riles
people, especially rally fans.
My first ever journalistic job was with
a small Scottish newspaper called 'Motor News & Advertiser' (no relation to
MSN!) and I was given a piece of sound
advice by the wizened old Editor: "Get the facts right and the story will
take care of itself."
And that's the point that irks me about
the press reports coming out of the FAI. I am not bothered about the mistaken
terminology, but the use of the term 'spectators.'
While one spectator fatality in our
sport is one too many, the three fatalities involved in the second accident
under investigation could not be classed as spectators. Two were signed-on as
Media and they had two friends travelling with them who were not signed on.
To suggest there were 'four spectator
fatalities' is therefore misleading and casts an even darker shadow over our
sport.
Over the past 18 months, the MSA has
introduced and led a transformation of the organisation of our sport and the
work is still progressing thanks to the efforts and enthusiasm of countless
volunteers across the country. And yet there is still much to do.
Perhaps Mr Clark could ask another
question at the next World Championship event he attends - When will the
FIA take action?
As for the comments and opinions in my
own personal Blog, I will continue to report on the sport and endeavour to be
as factually accurate as I can be. ----
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