The goat story
Time to play "you be the editor." Here's the real-life scenario:
A reporter comes across a bizarre story that you know will have high reader interest. But the story is also so...disgusting that you don't want to overplay it. In such a case, what's an editor to do?
Recently, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported that a goat was found dead in Walton County. A spokesperson for the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society said it appeared that the goat had been sexually assaulted. By a man.
We reported that story inside our Local section. We also posted it on our Web site, where more readers viewed it than any other story posted that week.
On Wednesday, PAWS confirmed that an autopsy discovered human semen in the goat. An investigation continues. We're playing this story on the front of our Local section, and posting it online again, where I suspect it will again be very popular among readers.
Yes, it is bizarre and disgusting.
If you were the editor, how would you play this story? Would you bury it inside the paper? Would you put it on Page 1? Would you print anything about it at all?
Let me know what you think.
posted by Patrick Rice @ 3:16 PM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
If I was an editor, I'd definitely include it in the paper, but, unless there was something more to the story I wouldn't place it on the front page. I think the front page at least should be dictated by the effect it had on society as a whole. ie: Plane crashes, - thousands are effected, goat is raped: 5 people effected. Granted, this isn't easy to judge on all things, but, with a goat raping, unless it's an extremely slow news day, it should be an easy choice. I also think that what ends up on the front page determines peoples perception of a paper, and that screams tabloid, and not respected newspaper.
Well, first of all, you’re the editor, why are you making us do your job for you?! Another sign of the liberal press!
^^I hope you found some sarcasm in that, as I've been told sarcasm doesn't transfer through the keyboard too well.
Anyways, I think newspapers should go by the morning breakfast rule --most readers read their paper during breakfast, so if it's going to ruin your appetite (and I think sexually abusing a goat fits in that category) than I say definitely don't put it on the front or even give it a plug. I would've put it as a one column wide, and five inch tall (if that) article on the local and continue with it inside --there are reasons why we have the web. People aren’t usually as uptight? or sensitive to off-color subjects when browsing the “series of tubes.”
It may get more attention, but there are far more better and newsworthy stories to cover.
I think I've already ruined my dinner appetite. Thanks Pat, er, Mr. Editor.
This blog really gets my goat
"If it bleats, it leads?"
Why do I see this article as future fodder for the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (or some other horrendous late night talk show montage)????
Tell us more about the suspects. The Sheriff said there were people in the area being investigated.
Since penalties aren't harsh enough for people who do these things, they need to be publicly OUTED and OUTCAST.
I think the decision is correct to place it on the local page, or stash it inside the local page. It's obviously not something you want giant art of...like a certain bleeding shark that ran in the Destin Log, if I remember correctly. As long as you don't put it on A1 -- saying look at this, look at this -- you're in good shape with the ship you sail.
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