Jonbenet and maddie: Case studies in the ethical deficit of contemporary journalism

One of the lingering issues for journalism is the continuing problem of unethical practices in pursuing stories. This essay looks at this issue by considering the way in which a narrative was laid down by the media about two infamous crimes that received enormous coverage, and that shaped public opinion as to who the guilty parties were. The case studies are the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey and the abduction of Madeleine McCann.