Published: September 14, 2006 11:19 am            

Reality is sometimes just ugly

Those of us in the news business have to make tough decisions every day about what appears in the newspaper, but some calls are much more difficult to make than others.

The decision to place the photo of a man with a gun to his head who led law enforcement officials on a chase through the heart of the city on the front page Tuesday was one of those most difficult calls.

It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was not entered into lightly. The EDN realizes the photo will be painful to see for the person depicted in the photograph, as well as for his friends and relatives.

But the photo also brings a reality to the situation that mere words cannot. The event that lasted for 3 1/2 hours and captured many residents’ attention as it was occurring had most of the town talking. And as is human nature, speculation often accompanied what was known at the time.

I heard many people question why police “didn’t just shoot him” in order to get the man in custody, but this is not action we would want the police to take if it was our loved one who was involved.

The police have a duty to make sure everyone exits a situation like this safely. The chase went through busy downtown streets and innocent bystanders were everywhere. One misstep and the circumstances could have spiraled into a more tragic situation than it already was.

In addition, when the man had the gun pointed at his own head he was a threat to himself, not someone else. Yes, that possibility existed and police were prepared if circumstances took a turn, but it was law enforcement’s job to defuse the situation so no one was hurt — not a police officer, not an innocent bystander and not the man with the gun.

The decision to run the photo was made in the belief the photo was so compelling it explained the situation police faced, as well as the man with the gun, more accurately than words could.

It is not an easy photo to view, but it explains the reality of the situation in truthful detail.

Despite what many think, the purpose behind decisions regarding what and what not to print are never made for sensational purposes to sell newspapers. For the newsroom, the number of papers sold each day rarely if ever enters our minds. The decisions, whether right or wrong, are based on whether the information contained in an article or photo provides a truth that, although unpleasant, may enlighten us as a society.

The reality of our day-to-day existence is not always pleasant. In fact, it is sometimes just ugly. But if we do not look reality in the face, we will never find the solution to making the world a better place.

Donna Riley-Gordon can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 129 or driley-gordon@effinghamdailynews.com.