The front-page photo on Sept. 4 of slain children was a graphic and disturbing record of a Russian school turned red with youngsters’ blood.
The photo caption under it included an editor’s note explaining that “the Star rarely prints photos of the dead, but in this case we decided it would be inappropriate to sanitize the image of this terrorist act against hundreds of children.”
Accompanying the photo was an Associated Press story that chronicled how extremists “have been chillingly brazen in singling out ‘soft targets,’ ” such as churches and public places.
The bloody standoff, in which at least 326 hostages – half of them children – were killed, “shattered whatever might have remained of the notion that innocents are taboo terror victims,” AP reporter William J. Kole wrote.
The photo and story were a powerful match that gave perspective to the week’s news, Executive Editor Bobbie Jo Buel said.
It also gave the Chechen militants “maximum punch, publicity and paranoia” – the three terror goals mentioned in the AP story.
Eight readers called about the photo, five of whom said the Star was wrong to publish it.
Karen Hanshaw said through e-mail that, “Publishing graphic photos does nearly as much as the actions themselves to further the goals of terrorists than anything I can think of. It makes people feel heartsick, helpless and afraid.
“Obviously, the story must be printed, and people will read it, or at least as much as they can handle. By not printing photographs, you are absolutely not sanitizing the horror.
“Most of us are not desensitized and do not need the shock value to make us understand what is going on. Showing these images on the front page of the newspaper, where you can’t help but see it, is upsetting to many and actually contributes to the desensitization of Americans.”
Managing Editor Teri Hayt said that, “Photos are scrutinized with the same eye toward accuracy, fairness and balance that every news story must face. This was a horrific event that ended with the slaughter of innocent children. The photo went directly to the point that terrorists have shown nothing and no one is off-limits from their actions. What better way to hurt any parent than target their children?
“On 9/11, the World Trade Center was the target, a symbol of American power. Thousands died, and families were torn apart.
“In 1995, the Oklahoma City federal building was the target, a symbol of American justice that happened to have a day-care center, and many children died. The photo of the dead child cradled in a fireman’s arms was a powerful and disturbing photo for many Americans. But in Oklahoma City, the children weren’t specifically targeted.
“The children were the target in Beslan. This was a carefully planned operation to seize a school and hold children as hostages. The photos of the siege and rescue operation were graphic. We could not give our readers the true impact of the story without publishing the photos. This decision was done knowing that it would be difficult for many of our readers. Our Editor’s Note was intended to give some insight into our decision.”
Catalina, Class of ’69
Pam Hund Smith, Catalina High School Class of ’69, has spent the last 16 months planning her class’s 35th reunion Oct. 1-3. “I have tried every avenue I can think of to get the information published in your paper. One of our committee members suggested placing an announcement in the obituaries stating, ‘CHS Class of 1969, not dead yet.’ ”
Currently, no section editor is responsible for reunion notices. If you’re interested in Catalina’s reunion, the Web site is www.jeanilderton.com/ catalina1969.html
