why do they have to give details?? (warning: upsetting)

[spughy]

I'm sitting here listening to the radio (we don't have TV) and the news came on and one of the top stories is how a Nova Scotia woman has just been convicted of killing her daughter. Now, I've heard the story a couple times today and each time they've given different details. On some stories - like maybe something about the economy or a natural disaster or whatever I can understand that, they don't have time in a 5-minute newscast to tell you everything so they give bits in each.

But this - this was horrific. Why do we need more details??? I honestly cannot see why it is necessary for the whole country to hear this particular bit of testimony. The woman is going to to jail for 20 years, for a crime that is horrific just on the face of it. I'm not even going to type what the CBC reported, I just can't, I won't. I'm sitting here bawling my eyes out because I can't bear it. And this is NOTHING that touches me personally. I don't know anyone involved, nothing like this has ever happened to anyone in my family, and I don't typically react to stuff I hear on the news. And I'm not PMSing either.

WHY? It's a public broadcaster, they're not trying to sell ad space by having the most shocking news or anything. I can't understand why they feel they need to put details like that in. (The story is on their website, horrible details included. I'm not going to link to it.)

Can anyone explain why a public broadcaster has to air seriously horrifying stuff? Is this really "good" journalism?

[StoriesInTheSoil]

s mama. I know how you feel and I don't understand it either. A few months ago when the greyhound bus thing happened in Canada I was terrified and it just kept being gruesomely reported over and over. I don't live near Canada, never been on a bus, didn't know anyone that had been a victim of violence like that... it was just scary. They were reporting it like they were trying to scare kids around a campfire. Not fair and not cool

[Trinitty]

nak

i am a canadian reporter.

there is no good reason to broadcast those details, it is just a choice made the writer and by the anchor. public or private - no excuse.

print is a different matter, as thoroughness and detail are what makes them differ from broadcast news, but, you can avert your eyes and not read the small body text of a story.... you can't close your ears to the radio.

COMPLAIN - trust me, it really matters.

http://www.cbsc.ca/english/complaint/index.php

http://www.cbc.radio-canada.ca/accou...mbudsman.shtml

trin

[bigeyes]

I'm with you all. There was a case a while back that was on court tv that just tore me up. I love whodunits, which is why I watch court tv, but I had to stop watching because they kept having updates about this case involving a little girl.

Now with Caylee Anthony, it's the same thing. And the case you mention,

The way it affects us, I can't imagine being a member of the family.