Had Mr. Kerlee died that night, the photo would not have been published. Tragically, he died the next day and our staff was saddened along with our readers. We take great care with the words and images that The Dallas Morning News portrays each day, particularly those that can evoke strong emotions and disturb some readers. We do not publish photographs to be sensational or to shock readers. Unfortunately, horrific events happen around the world and locally.
Evocative photographs can be appropriate to convey the horror of a tragic event.
The reality of tragic events can be disturbing and troubling, yet newspapers must document them. The close-knit ties among Aggies made that reality even harder for many people throughout the country. The photo was one part of a comprehensive effort to cover the story with sensitivity. We know readers expect ethical decision making. We know readers expect us to show respect for people we cover.