A sensitive story

The Red & Black has used the utmost care reporting Saturday’s shooting.

Within 35 minutes of the tragic shooting on Saturday, The Red & Black was on the scene gathering information and reporting it to the public.

Although several people have praised our fast and in-depth coverage, we’ve heard complaints faulting us for the methods we used.

Beyond interviewing witnesses and those connected to people involved, we as journalists have limited ways of discerning what actually happened at the Athens Community Theater.

We have been as respectful as possible while still aiming to provide the University community with up-to-date information as the case progresses. This is our job as a newspaper.

Our main goal is to learn about the happenings in and around our University and relay them back to you, our readers.

However, in cases such as this, doing so is more complicated than usual.

Obtaining information about the victims and George Zinkhan is a tricky business for any news outlet, yet as a student newspaper, The Red & Black is the most connected to this event.

Emily Foshee, a neighbor of the Zinkans, told one of our reporters she preferred talking to us. “If FOX News knocks on the door, that’s a little intrusive,” she said. “This is pretty intimate – it’s more reason than just The Athens Banner-Herald asking or whatever … You’re not in a news van, it’s not intrusive.”

Despite our best efforts to be courteous and understanding to all those involved, we have received letters and seen comments on our Web site shaming our coverage.

One poster ranted, “The Red & Black ought to be ashamed with the deplorable way in which they are handling Saturday’s tragedy at the Town & Gown theatre… the Red & Black were desperately ravenous for a story… American journalists and reporters, as usual, has been behaving like hungry vultures, and they have utterly no respect for the families of Tom, Marie, and Ben.”

On the contrary, we have the utmost consideration for the families. We have had to separate ourselves from the situation and view it as journalists – not as Athens citizens. In spite of the necessary detachment, speaking with those affiliated is no easy task. It is emotionally draining for the reporter as well as for those contacted.

Our goal in reporting this story was just that – to report the news. We have no interest in selling papers (as anyone can pick up a copy or read online for free). Stating we have no goal outside of monetary gain is insulting to journalists of all ages and experience levels.

This story made the national news, but it most affects the community here – everyone has the right and a need to know what is going on half a mile away from campus.

- Megan Otto for the editorial board