Why Aren’t The Media All Over The Mosley Story?

Some say that Max’s private life is just that, and what the president of the FIA gets up to in the bedroom should remain there. Others feel that the potentially racist overtones from the recently alleged ‘orgy’ discredit the 67 year-old to the point where he should resign. I should point out that despite the video and photographs, nothing has been proven just yet, but regardless of how you feel, it does seem a little strange that the mainstream media are shying away from the story.

As of typing there has been little coverage on the major Formula One sites. It took until today for Autosport to say anything, and when they did it was just to quote the chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Bernie Ecclestone, Stirling Moss and the official FIA position of ‘keeping out of it for now’. ITV-F1 have said nothing and many other sites are equally as shy. The bloggers however are having a field-day, and the forums have been overwhelmed. In fact, Autosport have tried to close one of the threads discussing the story, only for their subscribers to start another one, and another one, and… They then went on to criticise Autosport for censoring their voices after some had paid to join their services. Of course, Autosport reserve the right to control their forums, but I can understand their users frustration when little reasoning is given to them.

In fact, the Times Online has been the only real mainstream media outlet to grab the story and offer comment. Perhaps this is some form of payback for the FIA going after Times columnist and respected commentator Martin Brundle for his ‘witch-hunt’ remarks last season? This is even mentioned in the article by Ashling O’Connor and Ed Gorman. Either way, the Times, also owned by News International who own the NOTW, published this article and felt it necessary to add a little bit at the bottom, titled “The wit and wisdom of Max Mosley”.

To say it has been an interesting morning is an understatement, but I must add I have only found it interesting because of the way the media is handling the ‘scandal’. The silence from the Mosley-camp is deafening, but then Max is a clever man. He may not have always applied his intelligence particularly well when dealing with Formula One, but he is intelligent none-the-less. I’m sure his lawyers are going to earn their pay-packets this week.

And perhaps it is just this reason why the media aren’t all over Max Mosley at the moment.

Update: ITV-F1 have now added comment.