Your Advocate: an editor's blog - ChrisCobler's Blog - Victoria Advocate http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler As editor of the Victoria Advocate, I want to amplify the readers' voices. I aim to promote transparency about what we do at the newspaper, on our Web site and any other delivery methods. By doing this, I hope to build trust with our readers as we seek to serve our community. As editor of the Victoria Advocate, I want to amplify the readers' voices. I aim to promote transparency about what we do at the newspaper, on our Web site and any other delivery methods. By doing this, I hope to build trust with our readers as we seek to serve our community. en-us Your guide to Gustav and football debuts today http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8606 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8606 Let's hope Gustav goes elsewhere and we can focus on that much more enjoyable season -- football.<br /> <br /> Either way, we have two new and improved sections online today to help you. Please check out our <a href="javascript:void(0);/*1219930720797*/">hurricane section here</a> and our <a href="javascript:void(0);/*1219930744045*/">sports page here</a>.<br /> <br /> Our hurricane section features a tracking map updated around the clock, regular&nbsp; blog posts by longtime Advocate weather watcher <a href="javascript:void(0);/*1219931807777*/">David Tewes</a>, and tools to help you prepare for the worst. We hope you don't need any of this, but we think you'll find the site useful living near the Gulf.<br /> <br /> Our sports section features a prep sports ticker, blogs and lots of video. Debuting later today will be &quot;The Pressbox,&quot; a video blog, or vlog as they say, featuring the Advocate's prep writers discussing this week's games.<br /> <br /> &quot;The Pressbox&quot; will work best if all of you football fans in South Texas contribute by posting your videos to YouTube and emailing the link. We'll feature these videos in the vlog on our site. Of course, you also may drop your videos off at our office, 311 E. Constitution St. Call our sports staff, 361-574-1206, if you have questions.<br /> <br /> We're excited to bring you these new additions to our Web site. Let us know how you like them and what else you'd like to see.<br /> <br /> And let's hope Friday night football starts without Gustav anywhere near the stands. How do you know when to say goodbye? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8559 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8559 &quot;I haven't lived a day of my life without Scoop,&quot; our daughter cried Saturday night. How could it be time to let him go?<br /> <br /> Our heart-wrenching decision had been coming for months. Scoop, our faithful 19-pound Terrier mix. had wandered confused around our house for at least that long. No longer able to see or hear, he rarely wagged his tail or displayed any of his quirky personality that had captured our hearts so long ago.<br /> <br /> Even so, we weren't prepared for the day when his kidneys no longer functioned. How do you know when it's time to say goodbye to a beloved family pet? Why are dogs' lives so short?<br /> <br /> Paula and I weren't prepared 15 years ago when our previous dog, Garp, died suddenly of a rare blood disorder. At only age 10, our lovable cocker spaniel left us too soon. <br /> <br /> Only a month later, I found myself scanning the classified section of the Denton Record-Chronicle. An ad for a terrier mix caught my eye. I told Paula we were only going to look at the shelter. It was too soon after Garp to get another dog.<br /> <br /> Of course, Scoop had other plans, and suddenly we were taking home the most sweet-natured dog either of us had ever met. Scoop was so kind and gentle he didn't mind a bit when we brought home a baby girl named Nicole a few months later. He immediately welcomed her as another member of our pack. Scoop's patience can be summed up best in a photo we have of toddler Nicole chewing on one side of Scoop's rawhide bone with him on the other.<br /> <br /> When we brought home Pica, a rescued kitten, several years later, Scoop said, &quot;Hey, cool.&quot; Another cherished photo shows Scoop and Pica riding together in our family van during the move from Colorado to Texas last year.<br /> <br /> Twice, I've said goodbye to my dogs during the past 25 years. The first time I rushed Garp to the emergency room in an unsuccessful attempt to save him. The second time, we decided as a family we should let Scoop find peace. Neither way felt right.&nbsp; Does it ever?<br /> <br /> We plan to have a family ceremony to scatter both Scoop and Garp's ashes in our backyard. We've carted Garp's ashes around for 15 years, never sure how to say goodbye. Scoop and Garp never knew each other, but somehow it does seem right that they should be together at the end.<br /> <br /> -----------------------<br /> <br /> As a footnote, I want to thank <a href="http://www.victoriavets.net/">Dr. Lee Zeplin</a> of Lone Star Animal Hospital for her compassion and kindness at the end of Scoop's life. She came to work on a Saturday evening after attending a child's birthday party and took skillful care of us.<br /> Fighting back emotion, I couldn't say much to her then, but I'm grateful she was there to guide us. <br /> <br /> In the next room, she did the same for another family in between fielding a phone call from a distressed pet owner somewhere in Victoria. I marvel at such dedication.


Title: ScoopandNicole.jpg
Caption: Scoop celebrates Nicole's 13th birthday.
Credit: ChrisCobler


Title: ScoopandNicole.jpg
Caption: Scoop celebrates Nicole's 13th birthday.
Credit: ChrisCobler


Title: scoopnpica.jpg
Caption: Scoop and Pica share a bed on the way to Victoria.
Credit: ChrisCobler


Title: scoopnpica.jpg
Caption: Scoop and Pica share a bed on the way to Victoria.
Credit: ChrisCobler

 ScoopandNicole.jpg Scoop celebrates Nicole's 13th birthday. ChrisCobler scoopnpica.jpg Scoop and Pica share a bed on the way to Victoria. ChrisCobler What are you doing at 10 a.m.? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8542 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8542 We've had fun this week experimenting with the Webcast of our morning news meetings. In case you missed the explanation of this Webcast, check out <a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8501">my previous post here.</a><br /> <br /> For a few more weeks, we'll continue our soft launch, as we call it. We're not promoting the Webcast much as we continue to work out the kinks and get used to being on camera. We appreciate the dozen or so reader-editors, as we're calling them, who have joined us each day. Already, they've provided several good story ideas and provided valuable reaction to what we're working on.<br /> <br /> We hope you'll join us at 10 a.m. every weekday and then vote on our front-page poll. We'll keep the seat warm for you.<br /> <br /> We've reserved a seat for you at our morning planning meetings http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8501 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8501 We think it's time to take another step to engage our community in a conversation about the news. Starting at 10 a.m. each weekday, you'll be able to join us during our morning planning sessions.<br /> <br /> What's even better is you can do this from the comfort of your home or office. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection to view the<a href="http://www.live.yahoo.com/victoriaadvocatevideo"> live Webcam broadcasts</a> our meetings.<br /> <br /> We want a dialogue and not a monoblog, however. What's particularly exciting about the <a href="http://live.yahoo.com/help/">Yahoo Live</a> technology is it allows users to chat with an Advocate editor during the broadcast. The editor will share all pertinent comments during the meeting -- essentially, we want you to contribute in real time to our discussion.<br /> <br /> If you like or don't like a particular story , we hope to hear from you. If you have a tip or a story idea, all the better. Let us know whatever is on your mind.<br /> <br /> After the meeting, we'll post a <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/847/story/295957.html">list of possible stories for tomorrow's front page</a> and ask you to vote on them. Even those who miss the live broadcast, which admittedly will have the sex appeal of <a href="http://www.c-span.org/">C-Span</a>, will be able to participate in the poll, which will be posted most of the day. We'll consider the results as we finalize the front page later in the day.<br /> <br /> We want to emphasize this is all an experiment. We're not entirely sure how the technology will work. During our testing, for example, we've seen a little lag time in the broadcasts, meaning you may seem some delay before we respond to your comments. The picture quality is what you'd expect from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webcam">Webcam</a>. We may need to keep tinkering to improve the audio.<br /> <br /> How well it all works ultimately, though, is up to you. If you find this conversation interesting and worth your time occasionally, the broadcasts will be a rousing success. If the crickets are chirping in cyberspace, we'll move on to the next effort to engage our audience.<br /> <br /> Click <a href="http://www.live.yahoo.com/victoriaadvocatevideo">here for a link</a> to the broadcast, which will be active only at 10 a.m. weekdays. Our meetings generally last about 30-45 minutes, depending upon how much we have to cover. We expect we'll have even more to cover if our community contributes to the cause. What headline would you put on the Ratcliff story? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8493 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8493 We had a lengthy discussion tonight about what headline to use on the big story of the day about <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/lawanddisorder/index.html">Michael Ratcliff's plea bargain</a>.<br /> <br /> We aim for every headline in this situation to work well with the accompanying photo. In this case, we chose a photo of the former sheriff walking away from the Victoria County courthouse. We thought this picture was the most storytelling because Ratcliff was not going to serve any jail time as part of the plea bargain. <br /> <br /> For a bit, we considered the headline of &quot;Ratcliff walks.&quot; The headline certainly matched the image showing Ratcliff walking. We discussed a subhead along these lines: &quot;Former sheriff avoids jail time, gets probation.&quot;<br /> <br /> However, some editors gathered around the computer screen questioned whether this headline was completely accurate. Generally, the argument went, when you say suspects walk, it means they are acquitted or receive no punishment. <br /> <br /> In the end, we decided to play it as straight as possible with this headline: &quot;No jail time.&quot;<br /> <br /> What two or three words would you choose for a top-of-the-front-page headline for this story? Will newspapers be the last mass medium? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8325 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8325 We're analyzing new readership research conducted by <a href="http://www.beldenassociates.com/">Belden Associates.</a> We still have hundreds of pages to digest, but the bottom line is good: The Victoria Advocate remains, far and away, the dominant source for news, advertising and information in the Crossroads region. <br /> <br /> A few bullet points to consider:<br /> <br /> <ul> <li>The Advocate reaches 116,000 readers during a typical week.</li> <li>Within Victoria County, nine of 10 residents read at least one edition of the Advocate, either in print or online, within the past week. Most of those, by far, still read the print edition.</li> <li>Within our primary nine-county readership region, six of 10 read at least one edition in print or online in the past week.</li> </ul> <br /> No other media in the Crossroads region comes remotely close to this reach. That certainly doesn't mean we should rest on our laurels. We commissioned the research to give us insight into how we can reach even more readers and viewers. We'll be looking hard for these answers.<br /> <br /> But I thought it was important to share this data in the face of so many national headlines regarding the death of newspapers. The bad news largely springs from metro newspapers owned by publicly traded media companies.<br /> <br /> Family-owned community newspapers like the Advocate are much better positioned to succeed through the transition to the digital era. For another optimistic view of newspapers' future, <a href="http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5281344.html">see this story</a> about private owners wanting to buy newspapers in Maine.<br /> <br /> Sometimes I wonder if newspapers are their own worst enemy with the relentless negativity in their reporting about our industry. The fragmented media world is challenging, but it's equally, if not more so, for local radio and television. How often do you read a story about how <a href="http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=1312">fewer people are listening to broadcast radio</a> these days? Or the <a href="http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2008/07/30/daily.4/">coming end of local TV news</a>?<br /> <br /> For those living in rural areas such as the Crossroads region, this <a href="http://www.annistonstar.com/showcase/2008/as-open-0303-jflemingcol-8c05k0923.htm">recent series</a> by the Anniston Star is worth a look, too. <a href="http://ruraljournalism.org/">&quot;The Rural Blog&quot;</a> summarizes the series <a href="http://irjci.blogspot.com/2008/03/anniston-stars-compressed-air-series.html">here.</a> Ethics board discusses how we handle tough photographs, stories http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8381 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8381 We reviewed how we handle sensitive photographs and controversial stories during Tuesday's <a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/5190">ethics board</a> meeting. To review our agenda, check my <a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8286">previous post here</a>.<br /> <br /> Here's a quick summary of what we concluded regarding sensitive photographs.<br /> <br /> - First, r<span class="entry-content">eview <a href="http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp">SPJ</a> and <a href="http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html">NPPA</a> code of ethics. <br /> <br /> A line in the NPPA code seemed to get to the crux of the decision-making regarding last month's <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/fatalfunnel/">Fatal Funnel</a> photo: </span>&quot;Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see.&quot; In the case of the Fatal Funnel photo, we decided it was important to show the humanity and the horror that so deeply affected those we were writing about and changed Victoria in ways we're still discovering five years later.<br /> <span class="entry-content"><br /> - Have group discussion about tough photos. Best decisions in these situations are collaborative.<br /> <br /> - </span><span class="entry-content">Consider our audience, maybe involve them in decision whether to publish. Also consider whether to publish more graphic photos online only.<br /> <br /> - Explain decision on same day as publication when possible.<br /> <br /> - </span><span class="entry-content">Be able to explain decision to family.<br /> <br /> - Be ready to discuss more with readers.<br /> <br /> - De-brief afterward to be sure we learn from decision.<br /> <br /> </span><span class="entry-content">Bottom line: A good and aggressive newspaper will make some uncomfortable at times. Ethics board disagreed on whether photo should </span><span class="entry-content">have run, but all agreed we followed this outlined procedure and could justify the decision to publish Fatal Funnel photo. To see the particular photo in question and others, <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/static/fatalfunnel/photos.html">click here</a>.<br /> <br /> </span><span class="entry-content">We also discussed Tuesday our news coverage surrounding the <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/lawanddisorder/index.html">four indicted city officials</a> and their dispute with the Victoria district attorney. Board agreed our news coverage of indicted 4 has been fair and balanced. Both sides have criticized us. </span><span class="entry-content">In terms of one staffer's perception about the editor laughing with mayor, we cannot avoid the reality that community journalists are involved with people and events where they live. In fact, we encourage these connections as being at the heart of what makes a community newspaper different from other forms of media.<br /> <br /> The editor might laugh with the mayor one day and the district attorney the next. A reporter might attend her child's school event. An owner might contribute to a community cause. These connections strengthen us and the community we serve.<br /> <br /> Still, we need to be sensitive to readers' perceptions and aware of our own personal biases. Toward that end:<br /> <br /> - </span><span class="entry-content">Take a collaborative approach to news. <br /> <br /> - Involve and listen to readers. <br /> <br /> - Be transparent.<br /> <br /> </span>Bottom line: It's OK to laugh. Just be sure to take fairness seriously and communicate that with readers.<br /> <br /> What would you add to either checklist? Are you wild about the Texas Zoo? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8344 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8344 When we moved to Victoria, we were delighted to discover the <a href="http://www.texaszoo.org/">Texas Zoo</a>. It's a wonderful place to spend a morning or <img src="file:///Users/chris/Desktop/zoofirebreather.jpg" alt="" />even just a lunch break.<br /> <br /> Last week, our son attended zoo camp there and regaled us nightly with stories of miniature possums, friendly macaws and baby prairie dogs. Then, Saturday night, Paula and I had a splendid time at the zoo's annual luau. Polynesian dancers and Elvis are not what you expect to see in Victoria.<br /> <br /> Every time we visit the zoo, whether with our kids or out-of-town guests, we find a new treasure, such as the second-oldest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Jay">green jay</a> there. I know the zoo struggles each year to stay on solid financial footing. This week, we take a look at the zoo's budget and fund-raising efforts.<br /> <br /> I encourage everyone to get a zoo membership and support this Victoria jewel in whatever way you can. As the zoo's director said Saturday night, it's Victoria's No. 1 tourist attraction.


Title: zoofirebreather.jpg
Caption: A fire breather with the Drums of the Pacific dance team from Houston performs at the 2nd annual Texas Zoo luau.
Credit: Christina Burke/Victoria Advocate


Title: zoofirebreather.jpg
Caption: A fire breather with the Drums of the Pacific dance team from Houston performs at the 2nd annual Texas Zoo luau.
Credit: Christina Burke/Victoria Advocate

 zoofirebreather.jpg A fire breather with the Drums of the Pacific dance team from Houston performs at the 2nd annual Texas Zoo luau. Christina Burke/Victoria Advocate I'd say the future is in good hands http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8340 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8340 We launched a multimedia internship this summer at the Advocate, and it couldn't have gotten off to a better start.<br /> <br /> Somehow, we managed to land University of Texas students Katie Petroski and Chelsey Delaney, who both brought incredible skill and enthusiasm to our newsroom. Regular online readers probably are familiar with their work, but had no idea it was produced by interns. Seasoned professionals would be proud of the high quality Katie and Chelsey produced.<br /> <br /> Check out their final project, a promotional video of the Advocate's multimedia internship program. We've posted it at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84R2S4yr0pM">YouTube</a> and plan to show it as we talk to other potential interns.<br /> <br /> We have two new interns set to start this fall, but we're interviewing now for the spring semester. Let us know if you're interested, or know someone who is. As you can see from the video, our first interns have set the bar high. What comments do you have for next ethics board meeting? http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8286 http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/8286 <font size="2">Here is the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of our <a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Blog/ChrisCobler/5190">ethics board</a>. We welcome your comments on the topics below or anything else. <br /> <br /> We also have discussed adding a couple of community members to the board. We'd want them to be people with some background in ethical decision-making such as a priest or a philosophy professor. Know any good candidates?<br /> <br /> I. Sensational photos - framework for decision-making<br /> &nbsp; a. Last month's photo of immigrants dead in <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/static/fatalfunnel/chapter2.html">Fatal Funnel package</a><br /> &nbsp; b. Photo/video of driver involved in death of toddler at car wash<br /> See below for additional reading material before our discussion. It's a<br /> lot of material, but there won't be a quiz. Because of their power, <br /> photos regularly attract strong reader reaction and lots of discussion.<br /> <br /> II. Fighting the perception we favor the indicted city officials in our<br /> <a href="http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/lawanddisorder/index.html">Law and Disorder</a> news coverage.<br /> &nbsp; a. Our editorial board has taken a position in favor of the indicted<br /> four. Has our news coverage been fair and balanced?<br /> &nbsp; b. A news staffer was bothered by a video that showed the editor<br /> laughing with the mayor at the courthouse. We live in the community. How<br /> should we behave? I responded that I've shared a laugh with the DA, too.<br /> Even so, if a staffer is worried about fairness, the general public may<br /> have even more concerns.<br /> <br /> III. Other topics?<br /> <br /> IV. Suggestions for September topics?<br /> <br /> <strong>SUPPLEMENTAL READING ON THE POWER OF PICTURES</strong><br /> <br /> Where do we draw the line in publishing graphic or disturbing images?<br /> There is no one answer. No ethics policy covers every situation. A few<br /> resources:<br /> <br /> - The National Press Photographers Association's <a href="http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.h">code of ethics</a>.<br /> <br /> - APME Survey: <a href="http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=77273">Readers Balance Compassion With Privacy When Considering Disturbing Images</a><br /> <br /> - <a href="http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=63131">Beyond Taste: Editing Truth</a><br /> In this article, photojournalist Kenny Irby offers some advice:<br /> <br /> Audience should always factor into the decision-making process, as it is<br /> the purpose of a free press to inform citizens and to maximize<br /> truth-telling through authentic reporting, while minimizing harm.<br /> <br /> If a picture is too gruesome for some audiences, a paper could decide<br /> not to print it. Here are some other options to consider:<br /> <br /> - Use an alternative picture. Simply selecting another picture should be<br /> the first option.<br /> - Cropping is an age-old and accepted practice. This is very much like<br /> paraphrasing or adding an ellipsis in a sentence.<br /> - Placement and size is a major consideration. Must the picture be<br /> displayed on your cover and should it be published in black and white<br /> and not color?<br /> - Selective toning and de-saturation are options. You can adjust the<br /> color and contrast in an isolated area.<br /> - Blurring, black bars, and text can be placed in a selective manner.<br /> - Distortion of the picture is another choice. That is, you can subtract<br /> and/or add editorial content within the frame of the photographic<br /> composition.<br /> - Include written context to inform the viewer and reader about what<br /> they are seeing. Captions, photo credits, content label, sidebar<br /> stories, and editor's notes are great vehicles for sharing information<br /> and building understanding.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> - <a href="http://poynteronline.org/content/content_view.asp?id=10769">When Disturbing Photos Run</a><br /> <br /> - <a href="http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=31&amp;aid=65099">Should We Publish Shocking Photos? Ask Readers First</a><br /> This is a step we could take if we created an electronic reader<br /> advisory board.<br /> <br /> --------------------------<br /> <br /> Photo editor<a href="http://community.victoriaadvocate.com/home/Search/frank+tilley"> Frank Tilley</a>, who shot the photo used in last month's Fatal Funnel installment, researched a few articles on the subject to provide background for the ethics board before our discussion.<br /> <br /> --------------------------<br /> Ethics in Photojournalism: <a href="http://web.mit.edu/drb/Public/PhotoThesis/">Past, Present, and Future, By Daniel R. Bersak</a><br /> Excerpt: &quot;News images shape our culture in ways both profound and deep.<br /> Those who lived through the Vietnam era cannot help but remember the<br /> searing photographs that have come to symbolize that conflict -- a<br /> Saigon street execution, a naked girl covered in napalm, a thousand-yard<br /> stare, and so on.&nbsp; These photos have woven themselves into the<br /> collective memory of a generation.&nbsp; There are some who would even say<br /> that the mounting weight of photographic evidence was the primary cause<br /> for public opinion to shift against the war in Vietnam, and hence<br /> effected an end to the war itself.&nbsp; As such, to borrow a phrase from pop<br /> culture, &quot;With great power comes great responsibility.&quot;1&nbsp; Responsible<br /> photojournalism means adherence to a standard of ethics.&quot;<br /> <br /> ...<br /> <br /> In his book Photojournalism: An Ethical Approach, California State<br /> University Fullerton Professor Paul Martin Lester outlines six ethical<br /> philosophies intended to help photographers and editors answer questions<br /> like those outlined above:&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 1. The Categorical Imperative is a distilled version of Kant's notion<br /> that what is acceptable for a single person should be acceptable for<br /> everyone, almost like a theoretical &quot;nondiscrimination clause.&quot;&nbsp; For<br /> example, suppose a newspaper editor is trying to decide whether to<br /> publish an image of a partially nude young woman fleeing a house fire.<br /> That editor should consider whether he would publish the image under<br /> different circumstances - if the subject was male, or elderly, or obese.<br /> The Categorical imperative says that what goes for one should go for<br /> everyone.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 2. Utilitarianism as a philosophy attempts to weigh positives and<br /> negatives of a situation, and maximize the good for the greatest number<br /> of people.&nbsp; For example, if gruesome photos of a car crash offend the<br /> victims' families, but shock the community into driving safely, then by<br /> Utilitarianism the taking and publication of those photos is deemed to<br /> be ethical.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> 3. Hedonism represents the &quot;do what feels good&quot; school of thought, and<br /> might be used to justify printing explicit photos simply because they<br /> are titillating.&nbsp; Publishing a provocative front page photo simply for<br /> the sake of selling newspapers would be an example of hedonism.<br /> <br /> 4. The Golden Mean philosophy concerns compromise.&nbsp; If there is a less<br /> intrusive, offensive, or disagreeable photo that still tells the story,<br /> that is the better option.&nbsp; The emphasis is on finding middle ground<br /> rather than an all-or-nothing approach.<br /> <br /> 5. The Veil of Ignorance asks the photographer or editor to consider how<br /> they would feel if they were the subject.&nbsp; If they would not feel good<br /> in the subject's place, it would be better to look for a different<br /> image.<br /> <br /> 6. The Golden Rule is sometimes phrased &quot;love thy neighbor as thyself.&quot;<br /> As an ethical philosophy it requires that a photographer or editor treat<br /> his subjects as he would treat himself.11&nbsp; This, of course, leaves<br /> decisions subject to the photographer's, editor's, or institution's<br /> ethics.<br /> <br /> ---------------------------------------<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.notrain-nogain.org/train/res/ethics/tuff.asp">Good decisions in tough calls</a><br /> An excerpt:<br /> Some photographs are highly newsworthy but so disturbing that you should<br /> decide against using them or give them special handling.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Death and gore. Many editors have strong policies against<br /> publishing photographs of dead bodies, body parts and bleeding victims<br /> of tragic incidents. Discuss with your staff and readers what should and<br /> shouldn't be shown: Is the whole body off limits? What about body parts,<br /> where most of the body is obscured, such as by emergency crews huddled<br /> over the body? What about a body covered by a sheet? What about an open<br /> casket? What about a pool of blood? What if the person survived? What<br /> extenuating circumstances might make you run a disturbing photo? If the<br /> photo depicts heroic efforts to save the person, does that justify<br /> showing some of the body? What if you can't see much of the body? What<br /> if the incident was highly public?<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Grief and fear. Sometimes photographers capture powerful,<br /> newsworthy images that depict the anguish of events you cover, as loved<br /> ones hear or await tragic news or as people watch their home burn or<br /> watch rescue efforts. Even when these emotions are on public display,<br /> these photographs feel like an invasion of privacy to some readers and<br /> to the subjects. Discuss with your photographers how you should handle<br /> these photos and what might justify exceptions.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; * Should you ask or alert the family? If you are considering<br /> publishing a disturbing photograph, perhaps the family needs to be part<br /> of the conversation, if they wish. You tell them why you are considering<br /> publishing the photograph and tell them you want to hear their reaction<br /> before you decide. They may not want to deal with you at all. They may<br /> alert you to some family member's fragile emotional condition or<br /> physical health. They may look at the photograph and find some comfort<br /> in the heroic rescue effort that it depicts. You don't need and<br /> shouldn't seek the family's permission to run the photograph. But if you<br /> can't face the family and tell them why you would publish the<br /> photograph, you shouldn't run it. And if the family does not object to<br /> publication, you might note that in a column explaining your difficult<br /> decision.<br /> * Consider the play. If you decide to publish a disturbing photograph,<br /> be sure to consider carefully how you play the photo. Page-one play will<br /> seem like sensationalizing to some readers. Sometimes it will be better<br /> to play a less-disturbing photo on the front page, with cutlines warning<br /> of the content of an inside photo. Or maybe the disturbing photo should<br /> be presented online, with a disclaimer that prevents anyone from opening<br /> it without understanding the nature of the photo.<br /> * Among the ethical land mines, of course, is the concern over live<br /> coverage of the recovery of bodies. The television stations and networks<br /> need to be exceptionally vigilant in their oversight during this stage<br /> of the reporting as the recovery of bodies increases. News executives<br /> should apply extra oversight to make sure that they have the chance to<br /> make sound decisions on what video to show viewers. They should restrict<br /> live coverage of the recovery of bodies and/or build in time delays in<br /> the live coverage to ensure that there is time for proper news judgment<br /> and ethical decision-making.<br /> <br /> ----------------------------------------<br /> <br /> - <a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0119/p11s02-wogi.html">How to tell story of the dead without offending the living<br /> </a><br /> </font>