How much is too much?
Posted Mar 8, 2012 04:26:49 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The reporting of the horrible details surrounding how Tori Stafford was murdered coming out of the trial of Michael Rafferty have started a debate, on whether or not the details belong on the air.
The stories aired here on 570 News came with warnings of graphic content, allowing people to turn down their radio if they’d rather not hear it.
Some listeners have shared they would rather have heard toned down details or no details at all.
Listeners voiced their perspectives on the Jeff Allan Show this morning, like Tom, who says you can’t gloss these things over, “if you don’t hear it, it doesn’t light the passion in you.”
Stacey says the details were too much, “this little girl has been killed, it’s horrible, it’s horrific, we’re all upset, I don’t need the details.”
Dan says as a parent, the graphic details are a reminder, “that we have an extra responsibility to watch our kids and make sure they’re safe… If you just gloss over it all, it doesn’t have as much of an impact.”
The debate continued on the Gary Doyle show, where a Professor of Journalism from Western University appeared.
Mary Doyle says typically court proceedings have legal boundaries to only report on what comes out in the courtroom in front of a jury, “in this case, I think the boundaries are getting a little blurry and there is quite a bit coming in from outside the courtroom as well, but I think reporters have to pay attention to their own moral compass.”
Professor Doyle adds the immediacy of news today with social media sites like facebook and twitter, reporters have to filter what they learn in the courtroom quickly, “even 5 or 6 years ago, people would report on what was going on in the courtroom, but then would have some time to think about it, and think about what to include in a story. Now they have to make those decisions immediately.”
Professor Doyle says reporting on the details is always difficult, “people are so interested in it, and there are so many salacious details about it, and it’s a real balancing act as to what to include and what to leave out.”
