www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, August 28, 2013 | 6 Exercising some photo sensitivity Sometimes we get it right. Sometimes not so much. It's called judgment and our reporters, photographers and editors use it every day. For the most part, community news media write about all things local that may or may not be of interest to all readers. There are residents who want to know exactly what their local government is up to while others would rather read about their son or daughter or grandchild involved in sports or the arts. Some folks love pictures of happy youngsters on the front page while others prefer a hard news visual. Here at the Oakville Beaver, the editor selects the most important story plus the best photograph of the day for its front page. We realize in this business you won't please everyone. Recently, we printed a front-page photograph of a youngster petting a large monitor lizard. The photograph was taken at a neighbourhood street party. One reader took offence to the picture, suggesting we should have been more sensitive in light of the two New Brunswick children being killed by a python as they slept. One of the more dif cult decisions to make is when using a photograph involving a crime scene or accident. What is its news value? Will the sight of a crumpled car help prevent distracted driving? Could it help get one drunk driver off the road? News is hard hitting -- especially when it is in the form of photographs. Pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. Earlier this month, a small community newspaper (not a member of this media group, thankfully) published a front-page photograph of the body of a man who had drowned. A member of the police dive team was also in the picture. It was gruesome at best, horri c for the family at worst -- the paper has since run an apology for running the photo. But it made us cringe in the newsroom knowing, too, that the credibility of all local journalists could be called into question. Police of cers, already well aware of the sizzling effects of citizen journalism, may think even less of the community reporters and photographers trying to snag that breaking story and photo. Sadly, this front page is a reminder to all of us in the media that one bad decision can lead to public outrage that is not soon forgotten. Editorial P R E S E N T I N G A C C O L "Connected to your Community" A D E S 467 Speers Road, Oakville ON, L6K 3S4 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Editorial Department: (905) 632-0588 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 51 | Number 102 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Halton Region Editor in Chief Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER DAVID HARVEY JILL DAVIS DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor Clockwise from left, Det.-Const. Paul Proteau, Crime Stoppers co-ordinator, presents Oakville Beaver reporter David Lea with an award Thursday for an Oakville Beaver story on the Whole Foods "one dime at a time" program. The program also garnered an award for the natural foods supermarket. The plaque was presented by Crime Stoppers of Halton Director Norman Bellefontaine to Whole Foods' representatives France Fournier, Corrado Romanino, Ben Grinyer, and Melissa Provost. | photo by Nikki Wesley Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @Halton_Photog) ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager Director of Production SANDY PARE MARK DILLS Letters to the Editor MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution Re-establish village constable: reader Re: Bronte merchant wants village constable back, Oakville Beaver, Wednesday,August 21, 2013. I read the recent article about Mr. Sammy Rawdah, owner of Sammy's Old-Fashion Chip Wagon, and nd it dif cult to determine the logic of the decision to "discontinue the Bronte Village Constable position due an operational decision to redeploy police resources." As a nearby resident, taxpayer and patron of his establishment, I wonder how it is that the crime rate is touted to have decreased in the town and yet a businessman in Bronte is being repeatedly vandalized. Has crime gone up in another area of the town/region and Mr. Rawdah is literally paying the price? If vandalism has increased this summer in Bronte, would it not be advisable to re-establish the position? That is what "crime prevention" is all about. I think this gentleman and his business deserves better protection. Obviously, what is currently offered by Halton police is insuf cient. CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Percy G. Purpura, Oakville Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Neighbourhood nature needs to be nurtured more Re: Creek project dragging on far too long, says residents, Oakville Beaver, Friday,August 16, 2013. I am a resident of Lees Lane near Rebecca Street where construction was completed in 2012. Clean-up was deferred to "early spring 2013" but only done early summer (after complaints). Mature shrubbery was replaced with seedlings, which may be visible to the naked eye in a few years. Flowering and berry bushes were replaced with evergreens. It seems the Town/contractor does not see the need to offer property owners any choice. Based on my experience, the residents can expect even more problems before completion. I feel that the Town needs to be more aware of residents' rights and the difference between Town and private property. ATHENA Award J.G. Gibbins, Oakville The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver. com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.