How the news media deal with victims of tragedy is a longstanding debate. In the wake of 9-11, the sensitivities associated with it are even more prominent.

Two schools of thought seem to prevail on the issue. The first, says that interviewing victims of a tragedy is an invasion of personal privacy of the worst kind. The other holds that the practice often provides a cathartic outlet for the victims, even helping in their recovery.

NewsLab.org, a web site for broadcast journalists, presents the issue in an article by Deborah Potter. But rather than debating the pros and cons, the article offers the viewpoints of seven people who, willingly or unwillingly, faced the media in the aftermath of a personal tragedy.

“Journalists walk a tightrope when covering these kinds of stories, trying to tell the hard truth while minimizing the harm that might cause,” Potter writes. “When they fail to find a balance, there is a substantial cost in credibility and public trust.”

Your find the article at www.newslab.org/spotlight-1.htm.