European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Columns to print or not to print that s quite a question by John Windrow Magazine editor when i was in journalism school we talked a Good Deal about ethics. What do you put in the paper and what do you leave out and what it came to mind last week when the slate treasurer of Pennsylvania r. Budd Dwyer called the press to his office so they could watch him blow his brains out Dwyer had been convicted of conspiracy in Federal court and was to be sentenced last Friday. He had Long proclaimed his innocence. After the Media arrived Dover pulled out a revolver stuck it in his Mouth and pulled the trigger. The cameras were rolling and he shutters were snapping. Photographers Don t have time to make value judgments or discuss ethics when something like that happens. They focus and shool focus and shoot. Camera people gel killed in combat zones sometimes because they re so absorbed in getting the photos they fail to consider that a gun is pointing at them not just the Lens of the camera after the suicide the newspapers All had the photos.  the hard part what do you do with them the stars and stripes received a series of photos from Harrisburg pa., Over the associated press wire. The first showed Dwyer holding the Pluto in his hand out to one Side moments after he had pulled it from concealment. The next showed him holding it in front of his Chest with both hands. In the third. Dwyer had the end of the barrel in his Mouth and his Finger on the trigger. For my Money the most horrifying photo was the fourth taken immediately after Dwyer fired. His hair stood on end his Mouth was agape and Here was a took in his eyes that conveyed a realization that he still knew what was going on knew that he had killed himself. The last photo was of a bloody Corpse slumped in a Corner still gripping the revolver. Shortly after that the photos were on their Way. The associated press had done its Job. Exactly the Way it should have. The a makes he news available. There s no doubt what Dwyer did was news. But then news editors have to decide what they re going to show their readers. Do you put a photo of a Man shooting himself in the head on thousands of breakfast tables there s newspapers that would and did. Our news editor decided to run on Page 1 the photo of Dwyer holding the pistol out to his Side. The International Herald Tribune went with a photo of him with the barrel in his Mouth on an inside Page. In both cases someone decided to show restraint. No Surprise to anyone familiar with the papers to would be very hard to accuse either publication of sensationalism. There s another school of thought especially when dealing with photographs. Tell the Story they say. Tell it from beginning to end exactly the Way the photos did and let the readers make up their own minds. Violence is very much a part of the world. It is increasing. The Public sees just As bad or worse every Day on to and in the movies. It s not a question of truth. What the photos showed was True. It May not even be a question of ethics. I think it would be hard to make a moral argument against printing All five photographs to gels Down to taste. Are we going to run something we know will offend people something that will Shock them what about the victim and his family one thing s for sure. The More important a person is the less consideration he or the will get if a world Leader gets Cut Down the photos wll run thai s history and that nukes it easier to decide. In Dwyer s Case i lend to go along with what our news editor did the photo of him with the gun in his hand is enough. Anything More would have been awfully close to showing carnage for carnage s Sake. But ii can get lots harder. The world it a crazy place. What if Dwyer had announced before the press conference that he intended to kill himself on camera do you Send your photographer to cover to then if no cameras show up perhaps he won t do it. But the news businesses competitive in the extreme. You can be sure that some cameras will show up. What if someone sees the Story in the paper and decides to do the same thing i would t be surprised to see it happen. I have a Friend who once worked for a big daily in the East. His editors found out a kid had been kilted in a gang War and tent my Friend out to interview the Mother. Take a photographer they said and Tell the Mother that her son has been killed. Then Lake her picture. He was Young and new to the Trade. He started on his Way. Halfway Here he told the photographer a Man who d been in news for Many years that he could t do it. Stop the car he said. I m going to Call the editor and Tell him i won t do it. When you do that you re using i  Don t do that the photographer said. Left go out and see the lady. Vou Tell her what you Maritto do and if she does t want to you can always quit then. So they went on. When they arrived my Friend told the woman her son was dead and he wanted to interview her and take her picture. She smiled at him and said can i go inside and comb my hair first it surely is an interesting business. How do you plan the wedding without dad by miss manners United future Syndicate dear miss manners my daughter father was an entrepreneur h is Bislimi practice caused Many problem for our immediate family and Hli eventual incarceration in Europe. He Wax not expected to return. We Are divorced and i have remarried. Our daughter who live and works in another Community told her employer and co worker that her father had died. She even took a leave to attend Hii funeral. A year ago he did return and now the visits him occasionally but the does not want to Correct the death Story. Now he u being married in simple ceremony without attendant or guest. I would like to do something pedal for her and we have agreed on my tending engraved wedding announcement that limply give the Date and the Nan i of the principal. I it proper for me alone to mate the wedding announcement it it appropriate to include a card with the announcement inviting a to elect few friends to a reception or party none know the father. Gentle Reader miss manners can solve your immediate problem very easily. However she cannot Promise to set your mind and your daughter s completely Al rest. A supposedly dead rather who is walking around Loose is a bit of a Lime bomb. Certainly you May announce the marriage by yourself even people who Don t think that inclusion of Parent names on a wedding invitation or announcement gives credit for financial sponsorship of the wedding often seem to think that it is a list of credits for the existence or rearing of the bridal couple. It is none of these things. As for the absent father if you or  called upon for any explanation the safest one is we re so sorry he can t be with us today accompanied by a sad look thai warns people not to intrude. Dear miss manners when trying to Point out to an appointed technical Public official that iome decision he d made seemed Imp actual i was rebuffed by hit saying that they were technically  somewhat miffed i stated that if the decision Ever caused me any serious problems i d a him in court. Equally miffed he replied i appreciate that i appreciate to very much thit a followed by a Calm but intense explanation tit Fame  have As Many Ai 40 people doing what he i expected to do alone. He obviously Felt swamped and i reply was apparently prompted by that feeling. Yesterday while helping Al a Church Camp i handed the director a written Nugget ton to eliminate some confusion with a Short verbal explanation and the Sugge ton that he read it when he had time. I received the identical reply i appreciate that t appreciate it very  because of the coincidence of receiving the same reply with Opp Oitte meanings i d like your opinion of the fint one which i m not lure a Lar Caim. To it emed More like that All i  i this expression commonly used with different meaning to be inferred from the circumstances gentle Reader indeed nearly any expression can be used to have different meaning depending on the context and intonation. And a Good thing it a Loo. By limiting himself tothe use of the perfectly polite words someone who feels driven crazy is Able to express his exasperation without starting a fight. Miss manners is always recommending that people reply thank you when told they look As if they ought to exercise More. Had the official said to you Buzz off buddy i be got enough troubles you would have had a legitimate complaint of rudeness. As it is he was Able to relieve himself of that sentiment and although you interpreted it correctly you cannot hold it against him. Of such devices is civilization made. Dear miss manners at Stu annl my Long ago i met an acquaintance i be known year or so. I fat Down next to him and talked a couple of  an older Friend walked in and i said of Long picked up my Coffee and joined him. My Girlfriend who a nearby with Friendl a Taii and Ufa i we too abrupt i argued that in a Public place the situation h very open and no Predie Rule apply. Gentle header keep circulating with the attitude that no precise rules apply and you la Toon be in More trouble than miss manners will Ever be Able to dig you out of. Please Don t come crying to her after you have plopped yourself at a restaurant table Wilh a couple who had planned a romantic dinner. The manners you describe Are appropriate to Laige parties when guests Are supposed la Drift in and out of conversational groups. They May even apply Al certain restaurants Community hangouts for example where the same people keep dropping by As much with the expectation of running into friends As of eating or drinking. But merely being in a Public place does not require you to socialize beyond a greeting with at acquaintances who also happen to be there. A the very least you must ask May i join you for a minute Iii Phi Mig it Jet Tiara 29, 19h