"As we go to air tonight this 84-year-old grandmother remains locked up in her nursing home room chained to a cupboard." As an opening to a 'current affairs' story, that is one sensational attention grabber! Anna Coren, host of Channel Seven's current affairs program 'Today Tonight', proves that she has slipped comfortably into the role vacated by former host, Naomi Robson. An 84 year old grandmother chained to a cupboard is sure to attract it's fair share of attention, particularly from the news media.
The Herald-Sun followed the issue on their website this morning.
Reporter Nicholas Boot opened his report with the words: "Shirley Frey would have to be the oldest person in Australia to be kicked out of a nursing home."
"But this feisty 84-year-old is refusing to budge, chaining herself to her room."
So far, this has all the hallmarks of a sensational and emotion charged story. Well it would be a sensational story... if only it were factual!
Yesterday, Federal Government officials visited the Sydney nursing home to check whether her rights were being infringed.
But they soon discovered the chains were a stunt, set up by the TV crew.
A spokesman for the Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, told The Australian's Diary: "In discussions with the resident in question, the officials asked what had happened to the chains they had seen on the television report.
"The response was the television crew had brought the chains for the interview, then taken them away again afterwards. She further advised that the process of chaining her up had been instigated by the television program." source: Herald Sun
So the story quickly shifts from investigative journalism, to fictional drama. This is a clear case of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story. It seems that Nicholas Boot isn't only an investigative journalist, but also the head of the Channel Seven 'props' department.
As pointed out by my associate, LG, the real kick in the tale comes when you look up Mr Boot's biography on the Today Tonight website :
"Nicolas has spent much of his reporting career exposing scams and making people accountable for their actions."
"I prefer investigative journalism. Most recently I uncovered a drivers' licence scam operating in Sydney's Western Suburbs," he said.
For someone who has built up a career through exposing scams, you'd think this guy would know better! Last night, Today Tonight attempted to close the book on the "old lady chained to a cupboard" story, with a formal on-air apology from host Anna Coren:
"We reported that Shirley was living chained to her room. In fact this is not the case.
"Today Tonight reporter Nicholas Boot took a chain with him at Shirley's request to be filmed in her room. Shirley wanted to illustrate the fact she felt like a prisoner. We regret the actions of this journalist and are investigating the matter internally. We apologise to our viewers if you felt misled."
The whole apology thing caused me to get a little misty eyed. I miss Naomi Robson. She made for some fantastic television. If you don't know who Naomi Robson is, check out a couple of her previous appearances on Swollen Pickles:
Naomi Robson - her finest moments on YouTube
No one can offer an apology like Naomi Robson! Anna Coren, watch and learn...
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