The Morning Call Could Use a Little More Sensitivity

"Name withheld pending notification of next of kin."

Should newspapers identify the victim of an alleged sexual assault? If not, then why is the defendant named? Why are they so skittish about the race of an at-large suspect who commits a violent crime? Doesn't that identifying characteristic help nail the bad guy?

We could argue 'till the Eagles win the Super Bowl over those questions. But I think we'd all agree that a newspaper should refrain, at least for a few hours, from identifying the victim of a tragedy or crime so that family and loved ones can be notified. In its Ethics Code, the Society of Professional Journalists says it simply. "Ethical journalists treat sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving of respect."

What's wrong with a little compassion?

A little over a month ago, in its rush to get the word out, the Morning Call trampled all over the privacy rights of one Allentown family in reporting the death of 78 year-old Margaret Schiffner, a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning. Daughter MaryEllen, who discovered her dead mother and nearly dead sister, had the presence of mind to call family members on her way to the hospital. Too late! They had already seen the entire story, including some inaccuracies, on the Morning Call's web page. According to Mary Ellen, an hour had not yet passed from the time of her original tragic discovery.

In addition to failing to give Mary Ellen a little time to break the news to relatives, the story that did run is factually flawed, erroneously reporting that the decedent was a widow. But it provides a precise address in Allentown, and even notes the home was evacuated, making it an inviting target to potential vandals. Mary Ellen called to complain, and the paper cited the First Amendment. It never did correct its error. Mary Ellen then submitted a letter to the editor, and that was brushed aside.

Here's an edited version of what she'd like to say. I think the paper owes her an apology.

I am wondering where the Morning Call, Chicago Tribune or whatever name it is going to be by tomorrow, gets the right to violate my privacy by publishing personal information on the death of my mother and the condition of my sister after a tragic accident. I am referring to the Internet publication of the carbon monoxide article, published on 12/03/07. I was on my way to St. Luke's Hospital to be with my sister, calling my brother in Vermont, when my sister-in-law told me she ALREADY knew of the death of my mother, thanks to an Internet publication! It wasn't even an hour since I had found both of them. Mcall.com had it all over the Internet before I could notify any family members. Would you like to have your family and friends find out through the INTERNET that their mother, grandmother, friend had passed away? LET ALONE them stating that the residents who lived there would not be returning home for some time and leaving their home open to THEFT, HOME INVASION or ANYONE that feels the need to prey on INNOCENT VICTIMS? The reporter who published this should have been more alert and aware of what he was sharing with the public. How was I expected to return to the house to get clothes to bury my mother in without thinking someone may have been inside the house when I arrived? The report was a shame and a disgrace that will never be forgiven by me! To make matters worse, all the info they got was from neighbors who have no clue as to my mother's past or present.... For them to publish that my mother was a widow for 20 years was a joke! She was divorced in 1971 and I have the divorce decree to prove it,,,,,,,,,, So who gave this information and why wasn't the family given an opportunity to correct or acknowledge it?? Freedom of speech, Freedom of the press??? But no privacy is WRONG!! I wrote and mailed a letter to the editor about this and it was never published!! Why not?? Didn't they like it, or wasn't it any of their concern since it wasn't their family in this situation? Who released all this information and why weren't their names put on the website if they were so aware of what was going on???

I will never buy The Morning Call, subscribe to The Morning Call or even glance at the Morning Call again!!! Am I hurt??? You bet I am!! Am I still grieving?? You bet I am!!! Does The Morning Call care about me??? You bet they don't!!!! A person gets SHOT in this GREAT CITY but NO NAMES can be PUBLISHED until the next of kin is notified! A WORKER FALLS OF A SCAFFOLD at CITY HALL but no name is released! MY MOTHER DIES and my SISTER WAS IN CRITICAL CONDITION and their NAME and ADDRESS HITS THE PAPER in less then an hour??? WHERE ARE THEIR RIGHTS??? WHERE ARE MY RIGHTS??? WHERE IS MY FAMILY'S RIGHT to hear it first hand FROM A FAMILY MEMBER??? WHERE ARE YOUR RIGHTS??? The Morning Call doesn't seem to think we have any unless we are shot or INVOLVED in a CITY ACCIDENT!!!