The Media Circus Surrounding Keigo

[Zzinged]

A basic rundown of what's happening here.

Boy living with his relatives has been searching for his Japanese father for a while. His mother died and told him to wait by Wat Tha Luang in Phichit because his father told her that he would come back to that spot to meet them. Bangkok Post ran the story and ever since then the media have latched on to him (front page, Tuesday 12/5/09). Don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy for him but the other day I was waching the news at 7pm and they ran a long story (about 5-8 mins aprox) about Keigo. At first it was the usual recap and an update to inform us what was happening, but then it started being in bad taste. They (a media gang consisting of no less than 5 video cameras and a handful of digial cameras) were following him. They followed him to the hotel (his first stay in a hotel!) they followed him to the pool (his first swim in a pool!) they followed him on the BTS (his first ride in the subway!) then they finally surrounded him and started to ask him questions). I turned off the tv at this point.

What do you think about the way the media have made him their poster boy for that feel-good fix?

The start of it all: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1651...-search-for-dad

The Queen takes note: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1662...r-nine-year-old

Starts getting ridiculous: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/1716...t-last-by-phone

Ok, what the heck...: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14...oduct-presenter

List of Bangkok Post articles: http://www.bangkokpost.com/search/page-1/?keyword=keigo