(No) thanks to the media, life might return to normal for Madeleine

Today, New South Wales police announced that they had arrested and charged a man for allegedly breaking into the home of an18-year-old Sydney woman before leaving a fake 'collar bomb' around her neck.  The arrest took place in Kentucky in the US, in conjunction with the FBI.

Madeleine Pulver

Hopefully now, the media will get their wish and the lives of Madeleine Pulver and her family can return to 'normal'.

Of course, I say this in jest.  I'm sure the Pulver family genuinely did (and still do) want things to return to normal.  But the media, by following Madeleine's every move for the past two weeks - to school, to the local shops, even to hockey training - have done everything in their power to deny that wish while repeatedly highlighting the family's desire for things to.... return to normal.

While the television media clearly led the way, camping outside the Pulver home and questioning Madeleine and her family whenever they appeared from behind the front door, online media did its fair share of keeping things from as far as normal as possible for Madeleine too.

The online versions of The Australian and Sydney's The Daily Telegraph both ensured consumers of the running story knew that certain photos of Madeleine belonged to those particular news outlets.  Both slapped watermarks across the said images to avoid any confusion.   

It makes me wonder if the online news media are using this tactic as a shameless form of self-promotion, knowing full-well that the speed with which their stories and associated images can be posted place them at a distinct advantage over other mediums.

The tactic certainly did nothing to help Madeleine return to a normal life.

What do you think?