Some of our readers have expressed concern regarding The Daily’s coverage this week of Weinberg sophomore Rebecca Quint’s death. We hope the following will clarify our editorial decisions and the journalistic nuances of this story. We want to maintain a transparent conversation out of respect for Quint’s memory.
As the publication of record for Northwestern and Evanston, we carry the responsibility to inform our readers, act as the watchdog for the University and city and build a sense of community on and off campus. We take this role seriously and attempt to consider the interests of our readers with every decision. In covering any story, we abide by The Daily’s Code of Ethics, which is based on the standards set forth by the Society of Professional Journalists. Both feature four principles highlighting the basics of gathering news: Seek Truth and Report It, Minimize Harm, Act Independently, and Be Accountable.
Some media outlets with larger audiences discontinue coverage of a death after learning the incident was a suicide. This line of thought considers the story to be outside public interest when it becomes clear there is no threat to public safety. But on a small college campus, a more focused circumstance, any student death is of grave concern to the tightly knit community.
When dealing with tragedies, there is a fine line between releasing all pertinent information and being needlessly gruesome. As one commenter on our Web site wrote, certain elements of our reporting were “clearly irrelevant” and “just pandering to the morbid curiosity of readers.”
Including these details was not an act of exploitation. Consistent with our Code of Ethics, we were aiming to report truth and minimize harm.
Regarding the former there were widespread rumors about Quint’s death. None of the accounts we encountered aligned with the findings of the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Given the vast circulation of misinformation, we felt compelled to publish the truth. Failing to do so, in our view, would be compromising our responsibility as journalists. As for the latter, a suicide carries societal implications. Addressing sensitive topics brings them into the public sphere to be discussed openly. An uninhibited conversation allows friends, family members and the community to move forward constructively.
Aligning with our goal of fostering community, we hoped telling the complete story would raise awareness and bring students closer together, which could prevent similar situations from happening in the future. Furthermore we included information about how members of the NU community can seek help during these rough times.
For those readers who were offended by our reporting, we apologize wholeheartedly. We did not mean to cause distress. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Quint’s friends and family.
Editor in Chief Matt Forman and Managing Editor Sean Collins Walsh are Medill juniors. They can be reached at [email protected].
