The Title Speaks For Itself

Before starting Cre Comm, I only usually read the news that stood out or that related to anything I was interested in. We looked at an article today that I'm sure millions of people picked up or read online today. You wouldn't even have to read the article to know what happens in this story. The title speaks for itself.

"Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die"  DOOMED.

What would be the first thought if you read that title? How about if that title is over top of a photo like this?

This is what we looked at in journalism this morning. Discussing the pros and cons of publishing something so shocking for front page news for the world to see. Seeing someone so helpless looking at an oncoming subway and you know what happens next. No, this is not a movie and he does not get rescued at the last minute. This man is killed. In front of several witnesses, including a photographer who tried to use his flash to signal the driver to stop. Now of course none of us know the full story because we weren't there. Some people said he was mentally ill, others said he was drunk. One fact for sure was that he got into an argument with another male on the platform and the male pushed him over the edge onto the track. 

How would you react to seeing this story? Stomach turns? Maybe a little? How would you think the family would feel to find out this news on the front page of a paper? Probably pretty crushed. We often talk about what's good and bad journalism and this is probably one of the few stories that can go both ways. For some people a story like this would be too graphic and inappropriate to publish. Others may disagree, and see it as a warning sign to be more careful or even to think twice about helping someone you see is in danger. 

That gets to another point...seeing people in danger. Why did so many people just ignore this helpless man? There were clearly several people around taking pictures and videos that ended up on news sites and YouTube only hours later. So how did so many people just stand there? Perhaps the train was too close to have time to do anything about it. Again, none of us were there so we don't know. 

I love reading many different kinds of journalism just to get different takes on everything. While this has major shock value, it definitely brought up a lot of comments and questions from thousands of people. Essentially that's what journalism is trying to do. Make people think. So maybe this can be a good story, maybe not. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D8t_-3wIYw

Condolences to the family of the man who got hit by the subway.