--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is often said that Vietnam was the…" description: "\"“It is often said that Vietnam was the first television war. By the same token, Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fough..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/sue-richardson-86668_abuse_it-is-often-said-that-vietnam-was-the-fi_3188479.jpg" --- # It is often said that Vietnam was the first television… ![“It is often said that Vietnam was the first television war. By the same token, Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fought not in the courts, but in the media. By the summer of 1987 Cleveland had become above all, a hot media story. The Daily Mail, for example, had…” quote by Sue Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/sue-richardson-86668_abuse_it-is-often-said-that-vietnam-was-the-fi_3188479.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/sue-richardson-86668_abuse_it-is-often-said-that-vietnam-was-the-fi_3188479.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/sue-richardson-86668_abuse_it-is-often-said-that-vietnam-was-the-fi_3188479.jpg) > ““It is often said that Vietnam was the first television war. By the same token, Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fought not in the courts, but in the media. By the summer of 1987 Cleveland had become above all, a hot media story. The Daily Mail, for example, had seven reporters, plus its northern editor, based in Middlesbrough full time. Most other news papers and television news teams followed suit. What were all the reporters looking for? Not children at risk. Not abusing adults. Aggrieved parents were the mother lode sought by these prospecting journalists. Many of these parents were only too happy to tell — and in some cases, it would appear, sell— their stories. Those stories are truly extraordinary. In many cases they bore almost no relation to the facts. Parents were allowed - encouraged to portray themselves as the innocent victims of a runaway witch-hunt and these accounts were duly fed to the public. Nowhere in any of the reporting is there any sign of counterbalancing information from child protection workers or the organisations that employed them. Throughout the summer of 1987 newspapers ‘reported’ what they termed a national scandal of innocent families torn apart. The claims were repeated in Parliament and then recycled as established ‘facts’ by the media. The result was that the courts themselves began to be paralysed by the power of this juggernaut of press reporting — ‘journalism’ which created and painstakingly fed a public mood which brooked no other version of the story. (p21)”” Sue Richardson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The media sensationalized child protection issues in Cleveland, turning families into victims in a narrative that ignored professional perspectives, leading to judicial paralysis. **In simple terms:** Media hype distorted child protection stories, harming families and courts. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate media narratives. Themes media influence child protection public opinion judicial impact Mood critical concerned Type analytical cautionary When to use this quote - policy making - legal proceedings - public advocacy - media literacy Key Concepts journalism ethics media framing social panic Questions to Reflect On - How can journalists ensure balanced reporting? - What safeguards protect against media-driven hysteria? A Different Perspective Media narratives can be biased and lack balance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Abuse of power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse-of-power/) [Abusers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abusers/) [Accusation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accusation/) [Child abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-abuse/) [Child-protection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-protection/) [Child-rape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-rape/) [Child-sexual-abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/child-sexual-abuse/) [Cleveland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleveland/) [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [False accusation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-accusation/) [False-allegations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/false-allegations-2/) [Hype](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hype/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lies/) [Media manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media-manipulation/) [Media-distortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/media-distortion/) [Paedophile-ring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paedophile-ring/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Pedophilia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pedophilia/) [Propaganda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/propaganda/) [Torn apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torn-apart/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Witch hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/witch-hunt/) ## Related quotes > [“...Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fought not in the courts, but in the media... Given that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-richardson/cleveland-was-the-first-war-over-the-protection-of-children-to-be/) Sue Richardson > [“But nothing in my previous work had prepared me for the experience of reinvestigating Cleveland. It is worth — given the passage of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-richardson/but-nothing-in-my-previous-work-had-prepared-me-for-the-experience-of/) Sue Richardson > [Violence is almost an everyday occurrence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/violence-is-almost-an-everyday-occurrence-in-some-muslim-lands-it/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [The Huffington Post Investigative Fund's goal is to produce a broad range of investigative journalism created by both staff reporters and freelance writers, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/the-huffington-post-investigative-fund-s-goal-is-to-produce-a-broad/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [I think that if there are problems in journalism they're created by journalists... the trivialisation of the news and the sort of snyed, cynical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-crowe/i-think-that-if-there-are-problems-in-journalism-they-re-created-by/) [Russell Crowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-crowe/) > [“But how can an ordinary girl not know this? Had Varana's mother not bothered to teach her anything at all or just shouted complaints…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-downie/but-how-can-an-ordinary-girl-not-know-this-had-varana-s-mother-not/) [Ruth Downie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-downie/) > [“A boy trudged down the sidewalk dragging a fishing pole behind him. A man stood waiting with his hands on his hips. Summertime, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harper-lee/a-boy-trudged-down-the-sidewalk-dragging-a-fishing-pole-behind-him-a/) [Harper Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harper-lee/) > [Once upon a time there was a woman who was just like all women. And she married a man who was just like all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-smart/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-woman-who-was-just-like-all-women-and/) [Elizabeth Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-smart/) > [ “\[Refers to 121 children taken into care in Cleveland due to suspected abuse (1987) and later returned to their parents\] Sue Richardson, the child… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-bacon/refers-to-121-children-taken-into-care-in-cleveland-due-to-suspected/) Heather Bacon > [“Most of the institutions that come in to offer help after disaster don't have the resources to provide concrete help. . . . Donor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leymah-gbowee/most-of-the-institutions-that-come-in-to-offer-help-after-disaster/) [Leymah Gbowee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leymah-gbowee/) > [“legal emancipation remains an empty shell if it does not include public services, social housing, and funding to ensure that women can leave domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-fraser/legal-emancipation-remains-an-empty-shell-if-it-does-not-include/) Nancy Fraser ## More by Sue Richardson > [“But nothing in my previous work had prepared me for the experience of reinvestigating Cleveland. It is worth — given the passage of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-richardson/but-nothing-in-my-previous-work-had-prepared-me-for-the-experience-of/) Sue Richardson > [“...Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fought not in the courts, but in the media... Given that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-richardson/cleveland-was-the-first-war-over-the-protection-of-children-to-be/) Sue Richardson Explore all 3 Sue Richardson quotes ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is often said that Vietnam was the first television war. By the same token, Cleveland was the first war over the protection of children to be fought not in the courts, but in the media. By the summer of 1987 Cleveland had become above all, a hot media story. The Daily Mail, for example, had seven reporters, plus its northern editor, based in Middlesbrough full time. Most other news papers and television news teams followed suit. What were all the reporters looking for? Not children at risk. Not abusing adults. Aggrieved parents were the mother lode sought by these prospecting journalists. Many of these parents were only too happy to tell — and in some cases, it would appear, sell— their stories. Those stories are truly extraordinary. In many cases they bore almost no relation to the facts. Parents were allowed - encouraged to portray themselves as the innocent victims of a runaway witch-hunt and these accounts were duly fed to the public. Nowhere in any of the reporting is there any sign of counterbalancing information from child protection workers or the organisations that employed them. Throughout the summer of 1987 newspapers ‘reported’ what they termed a national scandal of innocent families torn apart. 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