Business Council of Alabama's Ralph Stacey, and quotes an (unpublished) letter to Montgomery Advertiser Editor Wanda Lloyd questioning the cause of death and asking why there was no follow up coverage.
There is a longstanding policy in most newsrooms to avoid reporting suicides, period. There are exceptions...when the death occurs in a public place or in a spectacular way, or when the suicide victim is a public figure. While Stacey's death was in an office building as opposed to a home, it's still not quite the old House Chamber in the State Capitol or the center of Dexter Avenue. And while he was known to people in the media and corporate world, he hardly qualified as a public figure.
At WAKA we reported the death, but not the suicide aspect of it. I saw the Advertiser story and also felt it was oddly written. Journalists are people too, and suicide is such a guilt-ridden kind of death that we sometimes do everything we can to avoid adding to the hurt the victim's family is already feeling.
Tim,
ReplyDeleteRalph was a dear friend and confidant his death and the circumstances that surround it hit all of us hard and we very much appreciate the professionalism many of you showed in the media, whereas, a few outlets showed much less compassion. If anyone attended his funeral the Priest put it best: We are all asking the same question as to why this happened but it is an answer that is between Ralph and God. Only God needs to know what he was thinking and what was in his heart when this tragedy happened.
I had the great opportunity to see his wonderful daughter today who seems to be doing as well as anyone could be under her circumstances.
Again, thank you for your great insight and perspective on this.
Thanks for the nice comment. Please pass on my regards to the family.
ReplyDeleteTim