What is journalism’s role in covering breaking tragedy? – Athens County Independent

What is journalism’s role in covering breaking tragedy? – Athens County Independent

Over the weekend, I had a lively exchange on Facebook about the role of news organizations in covering breaking news, triggered by house fires in Athens on Friday and Saturday. Many of the comments mourned the lack of immediate reporting on fires, accidents, and other unexpected happenings. Some suggested that the Independent could make some hay by stepping into that void. We have done so in the past, with staff on site during a standoff with an…