Even more graphic content

Today’s story on the slaying of members of the Groene family was somewhat less graphic than a July 6 piece describing Duncan’s crimes of 25 years ago, and Steve Smith initiated a discussion of whether the level of detail was appropriate. On one hand, more detail provides an insight into brutality of the perpetrator of these crimes, however, if the story becomes too graphic, it’s liable to deter readers.

There’s a fine line between being too graphic and sanitizing a heinous act of violence. It’s always a matter of interpretation whether we’re being to explicit or too conservative with the details, but swinging to either extreme is clearly a disservice to readers.

Our only general guideline, Smith said, is that we will err on the side of being too conservative when writing about details of sexual assaults committed against the Groene children. We may also add warnings about graphic content if warranted.

Preserving the privacy of Shasta Groene will also be a top concern as this story continues to develop.

Reader Doug Hughes raised a good point in News is a Conversation today about the “nearly universal local sentiment” that the perpetrator of these crimes needs to be put to death (“kill him now,” Hughes writes). Smith agreed that this case has inflamed emotions in a way that no crime in recent memory has, and it’s an angle that we should explore.