Friday's Herald: too much information?

Published Sep 21 2007, 08:38 PM by Adam Reilly

Today's Herald has a story on two Dorchester boys--brothers or half-brothers, aged 12 and 10--who found a fully loaded gun and turned it in to the police.

But it's not a feel-good piece. The boys' mother, Keisa Winston, says she's afraid her sons will be targeted for their good deed--hence the Herald's headline (MOM: I'M AFRAID FOR MY BOYS). "I don't want them hanging out in the neighborhood," Winston says. "I don't want these kids that hid the gun coming after them. I'm afraid for them."

Here's my question: if the mom's fears are legit--and the fact that the Herald based a story on them suggests that they are--was it really prudent to run a big photograph of the two boys in the paper? Or, for that matter, to say where each of the kids goes to school?

P.S.--After I wrote this, I read the comments on the story in question, which is currently on the front of BostonHerald.com. I'm not the only one who thinks the Herald might have screwed up; take a look and you'll see what I mean.

Blinded by the Right?

Reading Sophie Currier's blog

1 Comments

Rick in Duxbury said:

Since when did people around here start worrying about what was prudent? Boston is the American capital of people who think rights can be had without responsibilities. Biggest downside here is a "tsk-tsk" from Emily Rooney to Joe Sciacca.I'm guessing perceiving oneself as a "citizen of the world" does a nice job of diffusing accountability.

September 22, 2007 9:40 PM