That kind of reporting is more like gossip to me, and of course gossip is what everyone wants to hear. But, gossip is wrong and no one likes it when the gossip is about him or her. Reporters need to know the difference between gossip and the news. As for pictures, I think reporters should let the people in the picture see it first, know what feeling you are trying to capture, and get the people's approval before printing it. I also think there is a point when you just have to let the story go because the family cannot handle it.
Every family is different.
If you don't get one story another one will come. At least you won't have it on your conscience of emotionallly damaging a family because you wanted to get a simple story.