In Beijing he was usually way ahead of the rest of us in reporting what was going on. But he wanted to give parents a chance to control how their children heard about the story and perhaps make the event less attractive to those drawn toward violence. Commonly accepted press policy on playing down teen suicides is another example of editors recognizing the risk of copycat action and opting to place their social responsibility above their drive for circulation. Most journalists on his staff and around the country thought it was a bad idea. Readers and viewers should be told what an editor thinks is the most notable stories of the day, they said.
Readers can come to their own conclusions.
He received hundreds of appreciative e-mails and letters, and won the Chicago Headline Club's Ethics in Journalism award. Nigel retired last year, but The Sun-Times still kept the Santee shooting off its front page last week. I don't know of another newspaper that has followed suit, and I am sorry about that. I am not sure what good it will do, but it is certainly worth a try. The prominent play not only carries the risk of encouraging copycats, but leaves the false impression that schools face a rising threat of armed violence.