A despicable display of journalism after deadly Paso Robles car crash
When tragedy strikes a small town, its ripple effect inherently attracts media coverage. The community’s curiosity is piqued, for better and for worse. Media often acts as the facilitator of information, a megaphone for a community seeking answers necessary to heal. Great journalists even act as watchdogs, uncovering truths and applying appropriate pressure to resolve devastating loose ends.
Learning that less than 12 hours postmortem, a local television news crew was at the victim’s family home in the horrific Paso Robles car accident made me sick. I can’t even bring myself to watch the footage of a friend and wonderful Central Coast resident in her most heartbroken moment, grieving the loss of her twin.
You should be ashamed.
The fact that this is considered “journalism” is deplorable. What happened to tact and ethics? What happened to calling before you showed up with a camera crew? The family and friends mourning the atrocity are not breaking news, they are not click-bait, they are human beings.
Remember that.
Savannah Peterson, San Francisco
This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 4:49 PM with the headline "A despicable display of journalism after deadly Paso Robles car crash."