You were the Editor

A prominent community leader dies suddenly of a heart attack, leaving his immediate family and many friends and associates in shock. A newspaper photographer is assigned to cover the large funeral which is attended by many community leaders. The photographer returns with a selection of pictures, including one taken near the graveside of the grief-stricken widow being embraced by her daughter. Do you: 

A.  Publish the graveside photo because it is the most compelling of those taken and reflects the sense of loss shared by the community.

Readers  35%
Editors  95%

B.  Choose another more routine shot showing pallbearers carrying the casket.

Readers  65%
Editors  5%


Readers comments:

"Grieving is a private family affair."

"Expressions of grief should not be made public."

"Though I believe in the right to privacy, a funeral of a community leader is usually a public affair and the scene could easily have been seen first hand."

"His wife, no doubt, had a lot do with his prominence; showing her genuine grief is good for the community and good for her as well."

"Definitely run the graveside photo because it speaks louder than words. By publishing a routine photo you'd be doing just that - publishing a routine photo that's nothing but redundant. The loss to the community and the family can best be expressed by the photo and is obviously more newsworthy. Of course, if the family request that you don't, then don't."

Related Lesson

You Be the Editor