Hello. A few days ago, I met a woman who was originally from Toronto. She told me and some people that there was an agreement between all the newspapers, radio stations and news outlets that they not report any suicides that occurred in the subway system of the city. Their reasoning is that they don't want other people to get the idea to also throw themselves onto the train tracks. They want to prevent "copycat" suicides. My question to you is, how do you feel about this? Personally, I applaud them for wanting to "protect" the citizenry in a way, but I can't help but feel that they have unwittingly taken on the role of a nanny. I also feel that we the people have the right to know what's going on in our communities and for the media to deliberately keep something from us, anything at all, it's simply not right. I want raw news, not the filtered kind. Nobody should be able to decide for me what's "appropriate" news. Only I should be able to decide that. I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Again, I want to emphasize that I am not here to argue with people or to pass judgment or to "prove" anybody wrong. I am just genuinely wanting to learn what other people think the proper role of the media should play. Thanks for sharing.
Why don't you keep the stats and report it on your own blog. If others are interested, they will follow you. The media can report or not report whatever they want. The only proper role is that there be some reasonable degree of truth in what they do decide to report. I have a neighbor who is always complaining about "There was nothing in the newspaper about it!!!" and I am like "Dude, you only take the Sunday paper because you are a cheap bastard. You have no idea what is or isn't reported the other 6 days a week." They have to make money and people who demand things of them very seldom are the people paying their bills.
