SIR Michael Parkinson is not one of my favourite people, but he was quite correct to berate the media for its exploitation of poor Jade Goody (Echo, April 8).

One newspaper, on the day of her funeral, actually said of the coverage that “it was to show the respect of the nation”.

Unbelievable.

Thousands and thousands of people die every day, every week, every month and every year and they pass away having borne their illnesses with bravery and fortitude, unsung and unremembered except by their nearest and dearest.

The Jade Goody affair was, as Parkinson said, wretched and it highlighted how low this country has sunk in trying to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Hugh Pender, Darlington.