News vs. Sensationalism

The problems the average college student faces are usually put off until after graduation. School loans pile up, exams to study for and relationships that come and go.

While a student newspaper staff is faced with real deadlines, we undergo the same things as a regular student.

Today, we learned of a death. An as-of-yet unidentified man is believed to have fallen off the WLWT transmitter tower on Chickasaw Street. And let me say this now, none of us were scrambling to get to the scene to just see it to see it.

It's a disturbing story. But all the things printed in tomorrow's paper are factual. And we could have printed a lot more, too. But that's where discretionary measures come into play. We actually had someone attempt to sell us video of what the police and firefighters were faced with. For money. Someone was willing to sell footage of law enforcement and other members of the city attempting to piece together of what was once a person. Someone with a life, friends, family and maybe even a pet. Someone who had cares, who perhaps loved, who may have studied for exams and saw those relationships come and go just as we have.

Let me assure you now, it is unsettling. It's disturbing. We went because we are obligated to.

There was a life lost today in what is, under general consensus here at The News Record, a truly shocking and horrifying manner. And it wasn't easy to report. Even as I was editing the story, I was struck by the sheer ghastliness of this entire situation.

We care. We do. But we cannot simply overlook details. Nor do we include details that are simply there for shock value. Frankly, it was disturbing to even imagine the job those who had to report to the scene faced this morning.

So believe me, we do have humanity. We are people who are affected by emotions.

-Gin