Anatomy of a tabloid Fortnite front page story
If you popped into a newsagent yesterday – or perhaps even glanced at social media – you might have seen a front page headline about Fortnite, the biggest game in the world.
“Fortnite made me a suicidal drug addict” read the Daily Mirror, its front page telling of a “teen’s video game hell”.
“Dad saves his son, 17, from death plunge after he gets hooked on online craze” the front page continues.
The exclusive, by a journalist called Matthew Barbour, goes on:
“A boy’s obsession with video game Fortnite ruined his life and drove him to a suicide bid.
“His dad had to physically stop him from jumping to his death. Carl Thompson, 17, from Preston, said: ‘Fortnite made me a suicidal, thieving, lying drug addict.’ “
Pages four and five are a double-page splash in which Carl describes how he climbed to the ledge of his third-floor bedroom window and prepared to leap to his death.
“I was taking speed so I’d stay awake and play all night,” Carl is quoted as saying, “but then I started needing more.”
Carl reveals he stole from his parents to pay for Fortnite’s latest weapons and upgrades.
“I was exhausted doing all-nighters, so my mates said I should try playing with amphetamines. I’ve always been anti-drugs, but all I wanted to do was play the game more, and this seemed the only way.
“One morning I urinated in a bottle by my desk and drank from another bottle.”
The suicide attempt occurred in April. Carl’s parents, who say Fortnite is to blame for their son’s troubles and expressed their shame at not spotting their son was in a bad place, called in Lancashire-based counsellor Steve Pope “and the lad’s life is getting back on track”.
