REST IN PEACE - IF ONLY

The death of Whitney Houston, announced here in the early hours of last Sunday morning was another of the seemingly all-too regular reminders of how prodigious talent can be tragically snuffed out before its time. From Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison to Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and Amy Winehouse, it seems clear there are some talents for whom the burden of fame and creative pressures are just too much.

Why is it that some people find it impossible to reconcile the considerable natural talent bestowed upon them with a world that often fails to match up to their own demanding high standards?

Within three days of Houston's death (surely one of the greatest voices in popular music), the British tabloids were carrying photos of the bath in which her body was found, speculation about her mental state and rumours about a "dark" side to her sex life.

When, in pursuit of a story, did we find it acceptable to trample across the character of someone barely cold on the mortuary table - and singularly fail to recognise that here is a person tragically taken from this world and who has left behind family, friends and, most importantly, a young daughter.

Back on topic – it’s interesting to speculate why great talent often results in the production of a damaged and tortured soul.  I am sure we all have a theory.

Sadly, we see great sadness and tragedy in our world day-in day-out. It does need to be further propelled by newspapers, journalists and some sections of the media who need a voyeuristic and salacious take on events to justify their own existence.

And yet you only have to look at events in places such as Syria and Afghanistan, to see we have wonderful and heroic examples of fine journalism and brave reporting.

In many respects I do subscribe to the notion we get the press we deserve so, for heaven's sake, is it not time we stopped buying these pitiful excuses for journalism that sink below the gutter and into the sewer.