Check out this blog post at the University of Massachusetts. Be sure to read the comments below it. We've covered this terrain in 202 before, and I wrote a column about it for the American Society of Newspaper Editors.
I'm curious what you think of the practice of reporters and editors going into MySpace and Facebook profiles of people after they've died or been injured. Is it ethical? Necessary?
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Facebook and Tragedy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
While I don't think it is necessary to do so, I don't think it is unethical to look at the Facebook profiles of deceased or injured. In the interest of the family's privacy, Facebook could be the best way to find the thoughts of a person's closest friends without having to "bother" them while they grieve.
Facebook is a public site, even if there are a bunch of privacy settings. At least for me, I'm serious about my interests, hobbies, work, music tastes, etc. listed on Facebook. Looking at Facebook for what a person might say about themselves isn't wrong. People are putting it out there about themselves.
While I hope one of my friends would speak out vocally to the press about me if something happened (I hope it isn't ever necessary, but if it is), a nice comment or two from Facebook could also express a sense of loss. I don't think anyone, in any medium can truly express the loss of any person to their closest friends and family, but posts online do show something.
Until I see malicious intent on one of these "Rememberance Pages" or "Groups" on Facebook, I'm with Mims. Facebook is today's method of conversation--just because we talk about grieving sometimes doesn't make it any less valid of a venue.
Post a Comment