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A local television station took it upon itself to facilitate the boy's unannounced visit to the Japanese Embassy in Bangkok. The story has indeed taken on a life of its own, and Keigo's own story has sadly become a commodity for the media to peddle.

From the start, the media pounced on Keigo. But while his life story may be newsworthy for the public, we need to ask ourselves whether all the attention is in the best interest of the child. Not only have we turned his life inside out, we have also given him false hope - the hope that one day his father will come to his rescue.

The child running into his father's arms would, of course, be the perfect script for the media. But what if he asked for privacy? Would the media give it to him?

Or should the media hunt down the father and brand him as the deadbeat dad that many have already portrayed him as - in spite of the fact that all sides of the story have yet to be told?

Keigo should be an opportunity for some soul searching on the part of the media. The next time such a case occurs, before we start rolling the cameras, perhaps we should ask in whose best interest the story serves?