GRAPHIC photographs of two men lying dead in pools of blood at Margate beachfront were irresponsibly circulated on social media shortly after the incident last Saturday.
This incurred the wrath of the public, police and emergency services personnel, as there was no thought for accepted media norms.
The South Coast Herald and its online sites rarely publish gory photographs which could upset readers unnecessarily, unless it is obviously in the public interest.
In this case neither of the dead men had officially been identified. Family and friends might have learnt of their deaths via social media.
The Herald takes these ethics extremely seriously, to the extent that all staff members have signed an addendum to their `terms and conditions of employment’.
Should they ever post anything on their private social media platforms which could bring the newspaper into disrepute they face dismissal.
