The Sun, a British tabloid, ran a picture of the Buell Elementary first-grade class. We now know a great deal about the boy's home life, his parents, and his living conditions. All of those details help us understand the circumstances behind the shooting. Three Poynter faculty weigh in with thoughts. He is more a victim than he is a criminal.
Journalists often protect crime victims to prevent magnifying the harm the victim has undergone.
I want journalists to aggressively cover the court system, the child welfare system and the social services system who could not find a way to protect this child. We do not need the child's name or to see his face to fully understand the sickening nature of this incident and the inexcusable circumstances that lead to it. The media cannot control the stupidity of a British tabloid or the recklessness of an online journalism wannabe. But the idea that something may cause harm should not dictate how we proceed. Using the name and picture of the shooter in Michigan adds a layer of reality and humanity to the story.