newsobserver.com blogs
Photograph of a dead baby
Submitted by tedvaden on 07/09/2008 - 11:01
 
A couple of readers were unhappy with the Life Etc. feature Tuesday about families who have keepsake photos made of their terminally ill babies. One photo with the article showed a father cradling in his arms one infant and his twin sister who had just died. (The adjacent photo is of a living child.)
 "It is difficult for me to even write the words 'dead baby,' but I fail to see how the N&O editors can possibly justify publishing such a photo," wrote Lou Martin, of Raleigh. "I have complete respect for the parents and do not fault them for whatever decisions they make regarding taking or displaying the photos. However, I very strongly object to the N&O's imposing the photo on unsuspecting readers."
Debra Boyette, features editor, said the staff did consider the pictures'Â sensitivity.
"Much discussion went into deciding which photos, if any, to use with the article," she said. "Finally, we decided that in order to give a full report, we needed to use both of the photos. In an attempt to make it easier for some readers, we used the photo of the deceased baby inside the section. On the first page of the section we told readers about the content of the second photo."
I thought the photos were tastefully handled and were essential to illustrate the content of the story.
Advertisements
Ted Vaden
Ted is the N&O public editor, serves as the readers' advocate within the paper. You may contact Ted at (919) 836-5700 or by email.
© Copyright 2008, The News & Observer Publishing Company
A subsidiary of The McClatchy Company
Comments
Acknowledging infant death is necessary.
Fri, 07/18/2008 - 19:53 — Anonymous (not verified)How do you think parents of children who die feel when you tell us you don't wish to be made uncomfortable by the fact that our children died? Children die, and due to society's apparent inability to acknowledge this fact, those of us who have lost children feel like pariahs. We can't talk about our children, we can't show pictures of our children, we can't mention them. We cease to be parents because our children died? I doubt it. If the son or daughter were 20 or 30, would you subject the parents to the same route of silent suffering?