Thread by @garwboy

There's something about the #DowningStreetParty furore that's been bugging me since it kicked off, and I finally figured out what it is

All the media types/platforms condemning Johnson for disrespecting grieving relatives? In my experience, they've not treated us much better

/1

I lost Dad to Covid very early in the pandemic, so I've been part of the 'grieving relative' demographic for nearly 2 years. This government has essentially spat in our faces on a weekly basis since then.

Much the media now going all fire-and-brimstone didn't bat an eyelid

/2

It might be just my subjective experience, but as someone from the grieving relative community with a pre-existing media profile, I figured mainstream media types would be interested in my perspective.

Nope, not so much.

/3

It's not like I didn't try. I figured I should make some attempt to speak up on behalf of those of us who've lost someone to the pandemic, to stop us being overlooked.

Didn't seem to make much difference, sadly.

/4

I was on a radio show just the Barnard Castle incident. In the pre-interview, they asked my feelings on the subject

I'd avoided all friends and family during the worst emotional pain of my life, while Cummings jaunts about and Johnson says it's 100% fine. Yeah, I had 'views'

/5

I expressed my views.

Producer: "I understand, but we can't use any of that sorry. We've had enough anti-government contributions already"

That's balance for you, I guess. 95% of the country is appalled by the government, so the 5% on their side need much more airtime

/6

A year after my father died, I touted round many media contacts to see if anyone was interested in a piece about the experience of a year of grief in lockdown. Something countless other people would be experiencing at that point, and psychologically interesting, I thought.

/7

Nobody wanted it. The few who were kind enough to bother replying said they were "Trying to move on to more optimistic angles and stories", or some variation of that.

Us grieving relatives didn't fit the upbeat narrative. We were an inconvenience. Old news.

How considerate

/8

I've extensive experience in the media by now, I know how a lot of it works. You can't produce the same story over and over again and stay in business (unless it's about Princess Diana if you're with the Express).

But still... that's pretty harsh, right?

/9

I'm also not one of the 'boo to the LAMEstream media!' types. I know the majority of journos/media types are good people trying to do an important job well, and much of the content in news publications is dictated by powerful vested interests for personal gain.

/10

But even so, a decision was clearly made by much of the media at some point that the experience of those who lost people to Covid was no something that needed to be taken into account. Even though it was still happening to people every day.

/11

So, while I loathe the man in every conceivable way, when certain papers/reporters point at Johnson and condemn him for being callously inconsiderate to people who lost family members, I can't help but think "So were you for most of the last year, guys. What's your excuse?"

/12

Not got any solution for this. I just wanted to make it clear that us grieving relatives deserve more than being used as a convenient stick to beat an out-of-favour politician with when the prevailing narrative makes that a useful media strategy, thanks.

/end