STORY

USA: MEDIA INTEREST BLAMED FOR DEATH OF PRINCESS DIANA

English/Nat

Princess Diana, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver were killed in a car crash in Paris on Sunday as paparazzi trailed them.

The photographers, six Frenchmen and a Macedonian, have been placed in police custody.

And now French authorities are trying to determine whether the seven were at all to blame for the crash in the Paris tunnel

But whatever judgement police reach, many around the world have already come to a decision: that the media, with its relentless pursuit of Diana was in some way responsible for the tragedy.

The public could not get enough.

Everywhere she went we wanted a glimpse, a chance to see the woman who brought sparkle to the British monarchy.

And always waiting for Princes Diana, at home and abroad, were the photographers.

With their cameras in overdrive, they catalogued her movements for a public with a seemingly insatiable hunger for all things Diana.

And even with her death that appetite has not diminished.

In New York, with the news of Diana's death, Newsweek magazine scrapped its planned cover and started again.

This week's edition will feature a black-and-white photo of a smiling Princess of Wales.

Inside, the headline will read, "The Woman We Loved".

Now, many are wondering if perhaps we loved her too much.

Princess Diana had frequently complained that she was too much in the public eye.

But Newsweek editor, Jon Meacham says while the circumstances surrounding her death are tragic, that there were times when Diana used the media to serve her own purposes.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Whether it's Mrs. Kennedy, or Di, or Grace Kelly, or a first lady, whoever it might be, often have a very set agenda and are quite aware of how the game is played. That is they have reporters in to lunch. They stage manage public appearances for maximum benefit. This is a two-way street. And, it's quite rare for someone who genuinely wishes to be completely private to be invaded."

SUPER CAPTION: Jon Meacham, National Editor for Newsweek

Outside Rockefeller Centre in New York, people stopped to read the digital displays saying paparazzi may have been involved in the accident.

Aubrey Reuben is celebrity photographer, but is not a member of the paparazzi, the commercial photographers who have trailed Diana since she entered the public eye.

Reuben says he always asks permission before taking celebrity shots.

He's snapped Sylvester Stallone, Michael Jackson, and Princess Diana.

Reuben says the paparazzi is not to blame for the Princess' death.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"They definitely did not murder Princess Diana. Princess Diana died in an automobile crash because her driver was speeding and couldn't control the car. That's the reason for the death of Princess Diana. Why he was speeding is not our concern. No one murdered Princess Diana."

SUPER CAPTION: Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

Princess Diana was not the only target of the paparazzi.

They have been stalking movie stars for decades.

In May, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver were ambushed and trapped between two cars driven by paparazzi.

Actor George Clooney, has also clashed with the photographers.

Upset about a broadcast on his girlfriend, Clooney urged a boycott of Paramount Pictures Television Group because of its tabloid-style TV shows' use of "video paparazzi" footage.

Tom Cruise is another star who has been pursued at high speed by photographers, desperate for a picture.

In the aftermath of Diana's death, he is urging stronger laws to stop the harassment.

On Sunday, Michael Jackson urged the public to reject aggressive tactics, saying, "the world's acceptance of this practice, if it continues, will accelerate tragedies of this magnitude".

While Aubrey Reuben does not think the paparazzi are to blame, he does not condone their ruthless tactics.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"These paparazzi are people who are uneducated, who have no jobs. They are vulgar, violent, disgusting and this is a way they can make money."

SUPER CAPTION: Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

However although many are outraged at the media's pursuit of Diana, George Washington University Professor, Clay Warren says the press is not entirely to blame for the current state of affairs.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Well, it's hard to point a casual finger at the media alone to say toward the paparazzi in this case who are one small element of the media question. But, they're to blame because I believe it's a combination of people playing that role in our society as well as the cultural issue, and the demand for such a role. If the demand weren't there, then paparazzi wouldn't have the job that they do. So, media are to some extent to blame, but I think it's a larger issue of our culture."

SUPER CAPTION: Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University.

Sources close to the investigations into the car crash in which the Princess of Wales died say police seized about 20 rolls of film from the paparazzi at the scene.

And speculation abounds as to whether tourists or bystanders may also have snapped pictures.

However, in the hours after her death, images of the dying princess appear to be untouchable.

On Sunday, newspapers and tabloids were quick say that they would not use image of the deadly accident.

The editor of the American tabloid National Enquirer said photographs of the accident had been offered to his newspaper for 250-thousand dollars.

Steven Coz told N-B-C that the Enquirer would not buy them, and urged the world's press not to either.

Many who are mourning Diana say they would not look at such photos.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"In my moment of anger, I would just like to raid all of the grocery stores. And take all of those horrible magazines and make a big bonfire."

SUPER CAPTION: Luann Trumbull.

But Clay Warren says that while the grief is fresh, and real, it will probably not prevent the photos from eventually being published and hungrily viewed by the public.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"The outrage will be intense, felt but unfortunately transitory. I don't really think that this outrage will change the way, or the direction our culture is heading which, If I have to say it in a word junk food, junk images, junk culture."

SUPER CAPTION: Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University.

So while the world debates who is at fault in Diana's death, one man who mourns her said what may be closest to the truth.

SOUNDBITE: (English)

"Unfortunately there's a portion of all of us to blame because of our fascination."

SUPER CAPTION: Jim Hutchinson

The world's fascination with Diana may not have come to an end but there will be no new images of the world's most photographed woman, only memories.

SHOWS

New York and Washington DC, USA 31 August 1997 and file

File: Chicago, USA, June 4, 1996

1. Wide shot Diana walks up steps with photographers

2. Mid shot photographers

New York, USA, 31 August 1997

3. Close up of Diana on the cover of Newsweek

4. Close up of Newsweek article headline "The Woman We Loved"

5. Mid shot Newsweek editor at desk, zoom in to computer

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jon Meacham, National Editor for Newsweek

7. Mid shot of people outside Rockefeller Center reading crawl that says Diana was chased by paparazzi, pull out

8. Close up man reads craw

9. Mid shot photographer Aubrey Reuben shows off his photos

10. Close up photo of Sylvester Stallone, photo of Michael Jackson

11. Close up Reuben's photo of Princess Diana

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

File: Los Angeles, USA June 13, 1997

13. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver

14. George Clooney

File: Los Angeles, USA 1997

15. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

16. Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor

New York, USA August 31 1997

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Aubrey Reuben, Photographer

File: Washington, DC, USA, June 17, 1997

18. File of Princess Diana

Washington, DC, USA, August 31, 1997

19. SOUNDBITE: (English)Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University

New York USA, August 31, 1997

20. Close up of New York Post with Diana on cover

21. Mid shot Man looks at papers

Washington, DC, USA, August 31, 1997

22. SOUNDBITE: Luann Trumbull

23. Mid shot man places flowers at British Embassy

24. Close up woman grieves

25. SOUNDBITE: (English) Clay Warren, Professor of Communication, George Washington University

26. More shots of flowers at British Embassy

27. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jim Hutchinson

File: New York USA, June 1997

28. Diana