‘Coverage of Diana tragedy was excessive’ says public

The majority of consumers think there was too much coverage of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, according to a report from one the UK’s top media agencies.

Over half the public, 54 per cent, believe coverage was excessive and most say they will not change their reading habits despite the furore over coverage of Diana’s life and the condemnation of the paparazzi after her death.

Over half the public admit they will continue to buy publications which publish intrusive pictures of the type widely condemned after Diana’s death.

This is at odds with other findings in the report, from CIA Medianetwork, which shows that 95 per cent of the population think the press wrongly invades celebrities’ privacy, although 79 per cent of those interviewed think the death of the Princess was handled sensitively by the broadcast media.

Forty-nine per cent of the population believe broadcasters should suspend all advertising during such a public event. But over three-quarters feel that it is up to advertisers not broadcasters to pull commercials.

Alan Brydon, deputy managing director of CIA Medianetwork, says: “The moral stance taken against intrusive journalism may not be strong enough to affect people’s newspaper and magazine purchasing habits.”

The report is part of CIA Sensor, a monthly survey of a cross-section of 500 adults which looks into their use and opinions of media and advertising.