Here is the Editorial from today's Herald Sun:
One thing hasn't entirely changed with Douglas Wood's hard-won freedom.
The price on his head is still a small fortune -- only now he hopes to pocket it.
Before even returning here, Mr Wood is milking his accidental fame. Unseemly as it seems, with a showbiz manager and hopes of riches, he is already being actively packaged and marketed.
People risked their lives as we spent an estimated $10 million trying to save his. In his haste to cash in, he should spare a moment to reflect on that.
Mr Wood might remember who he is really brought to you by.
But of course he didn't spare a moment.
It what seemed to be a real "Dash for Cash", no sooner had he arrived in Melbourne today (at about 0530am) and uttered a few carefully selected words to the awaiting media throng, it was announced by Channel Ten that it would air Douglas Wood - His Story next Sunday at 6.30pm (AEST) with an interview conducted by Sandra Sully.
First of all ,Channel Ten isn't really known as a news network, and Sandra Sully is more of a talking head who reads the late night news than a hard hitting journo. This type of thing belongs on the more edgy 60 Minutes with someone like Liz Hayes. To prove my point, the Douglas Wood story will be shown in between a repeat episode of the Simpsons and Big Brother!
But it doesn't really matter when the cheque is signed.
Here is what Mr Wood's spokesman, Mark Klemens, said today."The Wood family has been pleased with the level of interest in Doug's story demonstrated by Ten,"
"They are confident that the resulting Ten News program will be instrumental in telling the real story behind Doug's ordeal."
Which means they offered the most money. My bet it is somewhere up around the $400 000 mark.
I know it is a commercial world that we live in, and it is the Aussie way to flog your yarn to the highest bidder, but this just seems all to quick. This isn't some celebrity wedding, it is a story that has captured the emotions and thoughts of all Australians. It is an event that required careful handling by our Government, and a great deal of money was (well) spent ensuring his release.
Of course the magazine, book and movie deals will be announced it the coming days and weeks. To have it all reduced, so quickly, to this dash for cash, just seems wrong.
While i'm more than happy to admit that the whole chequebook journalism phenomenon is objectionable, blaming the news subjects who accept the money being thrust at them seems a little unfair. If I (or most people reading this) were in the same situation, i don't think i'd be willing to turn down the offer of ridiculous sums of money.
As far as paying for his rescue, that seems like a ridiculous proposition, though i think a case could be made that his employer be forced to reimburse the Australian government. Wood's situation is not similar to cases involving lost adventurers - he was simply an employee of a company involved in a larger situation (Iraq) which has been endorsed by the Australian government. For the Australian government to now disavow any responsibility for Wood being in that situation (as would be implied by Wood having to pay for his own rescue) is simply dishonest.
Posted by: scuffs | Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 12:05 PM
Wood's certainly making hay whilst the sun shines. He's even got 3 main markets to market himself in - Australia, United States, UK, and let's not forget the Middle East, but I suspect he will play Iraq via video feeds, doco etc, rather than set foot. One must wonder how the rest of his family feels about all of this, especially Mrs Wood. Anyway, good luck to 'em. Greg Tingle Sydney, Australia
Posted by: Greg Tingle | Thursday, June 23, 2005 at 09:26 AM