Disturbingly Needed

In the world sad things happen, catastrophic things occur and journalists have the job of SHOWING and TELLING the public all about it. On a visit to The Miami Herald, one editor explained that a benefit of Online Journalism is that you can place a disclaimer before people view graphic photos. He is absolutely right. Newspapers lie around in most public places where anyone (whether they want to or not) can view a photo that is considered disturbing or graphic. If the media knows there is this risk why publish such a photo? The answer is easy- because people need to see it. In order to fully understand the severity of certain situations graphic and heart-wrenching photos must be displayed. Online a disclaimer can be put but in print what you see is what you see whether you choose to or not.

Such an issue arose recently when The Miami Herald published a photo of a father in Haiti holding the lifeless body of his five-year-old daughter, whose death was a result of Hurricane Ike. See the story and photo below as well as one Herald worker's blog about the photo.

Ike Kills Dozens in Haiti
Herald Worker and Mom Blogs About the Photo



Video: Hurricane Ike's devastating impact in Haiti