Survey of Suicide Photos Use by Newspapers in Three States

Abstract

The public suicide of Pennsylvania State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer posed a difficult problem for newspaper editors who had to decide whether to use graphic photos of the event, a dilemma of taste versus news value. This study examined how newspapers used the several photos available. Newspapers in New York and North Carolina tended to use photos less graphically than did Pennsylvania papers. Respondents said they used standards that considered taste and ethics in deciding against using some of the photos. Editor's note: photo examples appear alter this article.