The New York Times got it all wrong, but we needn't have looked further than our own doorstep for callous and irresponsible coverage of the tragic accident in Berkeley CA, which claimed the lives of six Irish students, severely injuring seven more.
Naturally, we won't be publishing The Star's front page - if you wish to purchase it or read the publication, that's your own prerogative - but these enraged tweets from Irish people give a fairly comprehensive account of what it entails:
It might be a good idea for news agents to turn over all copies of the Irish Daily Star onto its back page. Front page pic is awful.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) June 17, 2015
@IsFearrAnStar dreadful choice of photograph on your front page. Highly insensitive and unnecessary.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) June 16, 2015
The Star have the body bags of those kids on the frontpage. The line between vermin and journalists wears very thin these days.
— Oireachtas Retort (@Oireachtas_RX) June 16, 2015
Those parents are going through hell as is. Now photos of their children in body bags are front page of the Irish Daily Star #Berekeley — Samantha Cooney (@SamanthaCooney) June 17, 2015
The Irish star have truly sunk to a new low with their front page on #Berkeley. Boycott it please out of respect to the families. — Michelle McCarthy (@macyoubet) June 17, 2015
I can't believe that Star front page actually ran. If it's not pulled by the evening print they're vile.
— Robbie (@RR_Robbie) June 17, 2015
Just saw the Irish Daily Star's front page. You can't spell Trash without STAR. Heartless, callous stuff by the Rag.
— Brian Moloney (@BaysideBrian) June 17, 2015
Good people working in the Star let down by whoever decided to go with that front page tomorrow. Very insensitive and graphic. — Cormac O'Malley (@cormacpro) June 16, 2015
The editor of the Irish Daily Star, Des Gibson, must be so proud of his front page today. #bodybags#Berkeleypic.twitter.com/cInZdsMyhv — Helen O'Rahilly (@HelenORahilly) June 17, 2015
It does beg a few questions as to the reasoning behind such a decision; do people see a front page like that and pick it up? And is there truly no such thing as bad publicity?
It's disappointing to see one of our own newspapers going far and beyond the insensitivity shown by the New York Times, which was heavily criticised by Irish Equality Minister Aodhán Ó Ríordáin earlier today.
Alas, welcome to journalism in 2015:
Ugh, it's times like this that you wish journalists just wouldn't. #Berkeleypic.twitter.com/F1Y6SX9d9B
— amy o'connor (@amyohconnor) June 16, 2015
Books of condolences for the victims' families will be opened at both City and County Halls along with colleges throughout the country today, beginning from about 1pm.
Tags:
