This semester we have talked a lot about the public's right to know and the right to privacy. Also, about what to publish and what not to publish. On Wednesday, in the Maitland Mercury and the Newcastle Herald - there was the perfect example.
Both newspapers covered the funeral of Brendan Allwood, the 23-year-old apprentice plumber who was tragically electrocuted at work last week. His actions saved the life of his boss and good mate Aaron Watt (pictured below).
For the Allwood's it was a double blow. They had lost their husband and father less than five years earlier.
The main issue here is the photographs. Above, are two images, which were both used by both publications. The one on the left of Brendan's mother, girlfriend (left) and sister (right) was blown up on the Mercury's front cover. The one on the right, of Brendan's mother leaning on Brendan's girlfriend's sholdour, was used on the front by the Herald.
It caused many heated discussions around the Mercury office the next day. All the ladies in accounts were blowing up saying the image used by the Mercury was inappropriate and as mothers, they empathised with the griefing mother. They felt the image was to raw and the picture (above right) would have been the better choice.
I agreed.
On the other hand, the Mercury's front cover did show the grief, although graphically, and the family had asked the newspaper to be there.
But more importantly, if you were the editor/photographer/ journalist, and you had to make the decision, what would you do?
This is a real life scenario in a community newspaper close to home with real consequences, and you have to consider not only the paper, but the people. No text books now!
Here is the link to the online article - Woody funeral.
Photos by Cath Bowen and published on the Maitland Mercury website.
