Missing little boys

04.04.2011

One of the biggest news story in Denmark last week was when a little 3 year old boy went missing in a wooded area at sunday lunchtime. The news quickly captured the national media and people feared the worst when darkness and cold winternight approached, still without any trace of little Holger. During the night, police tried different tactics, icecream trucks that ring loud bells were asked to drive around in the woods as this has proven to work in Sweden in similar cases: children recognising the sound of the icecream vendor look for the car and can be found. However, Monday morning came and went and in a desperate attempt to locate the boy, police asked the public to keep away so search dogs could focus on his scent and not be confused by the hundreds offering to search the large woods. 24 hours later a man riding his horse looking for the boy against police recommendations, sees movement in the trees and finds little Holger, confused, hungry and tired but otherwise surprisingly well. Originally, what is reported being the reason he disappeared in the first place might well have saved his life. The boy is found in his jacket, turning backwards as he would not keep it on and his mother, tired of putting it on so many times, zips it in the back so he can't take it off. That was a clever move (even if it turned out not being the real reason for him running away- this is something many parents would have assossiated with, try fighting the stubborness of a two year old that just wont keep his gloves on, you are unlikely to win that battle- so kudos to Holger's mom) The story, already followed by all the biggest media gets even bigger coverage as a journalist just happens to be next to the man when they find Holger, and the police's reaction is captured on tape JUST as they get word the boy is found safe and sound.

A story so good, especially for television as the images are strong and powerful, that it even makes it to the bigger media. That seems to offend some people, like this young man cursing in Danish over the media attention "fucking Holger" gets and not the new outrageous business tax

Martin Thorborg : "So what is wrong with you Denmark- you are totally paralyzed over the search of a boy for 4 days but there is no reaction to the business tax? (!)"

Ok, in all fairness he was only lost for 24 hours and 48 hours later the story was over BUT what a story! I have to disagree.. I think a story where people feel with their fellow countrymen for something as banal and everyday as a child lost in the woods is something newsworthy. Everybody loves a good story, especially with a good ending, and frankly there is not enough of them. And of course it is all about the images (you cant explain a complicated topic during 2-4 minutes on television,if you stay longer on the subject the audience will change channels plus just visualize "business tax" for a minute...not so sexy is it?) Luck here it turned out like it did. (another example would be Japan, truly horrific but also because everything is captured on "film"). Images make a story these days, on television and on the internet - the internet sensations are often clips made by "amateurs" or "citizen journalists" or whatever you want to call them. Is that the news of tomorrow?

Similar story just happened this weekend in South Carolina in the States. A boy wearing nothing but a T-shirt and a diaper disappears into the woods early friday night. Search and rescue teams search all night for the toddler into the morning. He is found the next day, alive after a cold night with the family dog at his side. The dog did not leave the 22 month old it seems the whole time and kept him warm with its body temperature. Police chief in charge of the search: "I believe that dog being with him is what kept him alive." . Ah...beautiful...