Int'l Media Not Covering Swedish Royal Wedding
The world's biggest international news agencies declined to cover the wedding between Sweden's crown princess and her fitness trainer Saturday after a dispute over the release of television images of the event.
The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters argued that restrictions by Sweden's national broadcaster would mean many viewers in Europe and North America would not see video images of the wedding until many hours - for some an entire day - after Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling took their vows.
The three agencies jointly issued a protest to the royal household and broadcaster SVT, calling the access restrictions unreasonable. When no resolution was reached on the video issue, the three agencies decided to withdraw coverage altogether.
"The restrictions of this newsworthy event apply only to video, but if our video coverage is unreasonably restricted, we cannot cover the event in any format," said Kathleen Carroll, the executive editor of AP. "No text stories and no photographs."
A press statement from Reuters said it was withdrawing from coverage due to the dispute. "Reuters regrets this course of action. However, Reuters remains committed to press freedom and protecting the interests and coverage rights of our global client base," the statement said.
SVT was given exclusive access to the wedding itself and imposed tight limits on allowing video of the vows to be distributed outside of Sweden. The agencies argued that the wedding is a state event of national and social significance, and should be treated as a news event - with access afforded on reasonable and timely terms.
"The royal wedding does not fall into the category of sport or entertainment. It is an event of historical importance and coverage of it should not be made subject to restrictions and commercial charges more commonly associated with private, sponsor-controlled events of that nature," said Nicole Courtney-Leaver, an executive for Reuters, in a letter on behalf of the agencies to the royal court.
SVT barred the agencies from immediately sending any video to commercial channels around Europe and North America and told them they could make use of a brief edited segment of the ceremony only for 48 hours.
Victoria, 32, and Westling, 36, were to exchange vows in Stockholm Cathedral on Saturday - the same date the princess' father King Carl XVI Gustaf wed Queen Silvia 34 years ago - in front of nearly 1,000 royals and dignitaries from across the world.
It was to be the first royal wedding in Europe since 2008, when Denmark's Prince Joachim wed Marie Cavallier of France.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters argued that restrictions by Sweden's national broadcaster would mean many viewers in Europe and North America would not see video images of the wedding until many hours - for some an entire day - after Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling took their vows.
The three agencies jointly issued a protest to the royal household and broadcaster SVT, calling the access restrictions unreasonable. When no resolution was reached on the video issue, the three agencies decided to withdraw coverage altogether.
"The restrictions of this newsworthy event apply only to video, but if our video coverage is unreasonably restricted, we cannot cover the event in any format," said Kathleen Carroll, the executive editor of AP. "No text stories and no photographs."
A press statement from Reuters said it was withdrawing from coverage due to the dispute. "Reuters regrets this course of action. However, Reuters remains committed to press freedom and protecting the interests and coverage rights of our global client base," the statement said.
SVT was given exclusive access to the wedding itself and imposed tight limits on allowing video of the vows to be distributed outside of Sweden. The agencies argued that the wedding is a state event of national and social significance, and should be treated as a news event - with access afforded on reasonable and timely terms.
"The royal wedding does not fall into the category of sport or entertainment. It is an event of historical importance and coverage of it should not be made subject to restrictions and commercial charges more commonly associated with private, sponsor-controlled events of that nature," said Nicole Courtney-Leaver, an executive for Reuters, in a letter on behalf of the agencies to the royal court.
SVT barred the agencies from immediately sending any video to commercial channels around Europe and North America and told them they could make use of a brief edited segment of the ceremony only for 48 hours.
Victoria, 32, and Westling, 36, were to exchange vows in Stockholm Cathedral on Saturday - the same date the princess' father King Carl XVI Gustaf wed Queen Silvia 34 years ago - in front of nearly 1,000 royals and dignitaries from across the world.
It was to be the first royal wedding in Europe since 2008, when Denmark's Prince Joachim wed Marie Cavallier of France.
Popular in Entertainment
- Justin Bieber booed at 2013 Billboard Music Awards 110 Comments
- Cannes Film Festival 2013 50 Photos
- Ray Manzarek, founding member of The Doors, dies
- Billboard Music Awards 2013 39 Photos
- Watch: Miguel jumps, lands on fan at Billboard Awards
- Green, Aguilera will be back on "The Voice"
- Runaway mom begs for kids' forgiveness on Dr. Phil
- First look: Jennifer Lawrence in "X-Men: Days of Future Past"
Do they sign bills into law? Do they actually lead nations, discuss and dictate policy for their countries? Do they ever host forums for economic and business leaders to lead their bloc nations out of mediocrity and into leaderships status? Do they ever fund science and global issues such as poverty, prevalence of disease, issues on women and children, etc? I know the Queen from Syra, name escapes me now, does INCREDIBLE things for children of her nation and abroad, but the others are fixture for future comic books not lessons of mankind. The reason why we are in a mess, because people who have been given much, have done less that they were entitled.
Sad commentary I would say, you wonder why our priorities are messed up in life. Maybe 'this commoner' Daniel can show them how it is done. Oh yeah, we are talking about Sweden. Maybe he can give them lessons on health and exercise. Good luck for the two of you.
The thrust of this is we rarely hear of the royalty from other nations except as it perhaps to weddings, births and scandals. Yet the greatest asset they have is recognition which opens doors and opportunities like our celebrities here in the states provide as well. Not being privy to the wonderful conditions in their countries I may be remiss in not properly acknowledging their contributions. If that is the case I apologize.
I hear of Messers. Gates and Buffet who are giving billions to terrific causes, they are not 'royalty' when it comes to bloodlines, but they are royalty to us because they come from the American vein, the lifeblood of this great nation. Keep your crowns and your diamonds because we know the true value of worth is not in the carriages you ride, but in the lives you touch along your route.
Seriously, who gives a flying @#$%?
A couple of rich goofs that no one has ever heard of get married.
Who gives a sh|t?