Observer/Zinc headlines April 18
IT IS the kind of image no one wants to see on the front page of a newspaper.
Not only is this another life lost on our roads, another sad cross and memorial to grace the side of the notorious stretch, but it is a stark and painful reminder of life's fragility.
No one - not even hardened news reporters and photographers - want to go and cover this kind of story.
In spite of what some might say.
Yesterday, The Observer came under fire for publishing images of this terrible crash online.
Certainly, some were quite graphic in nature and any deemed inappropriate for the website were removed.
To publish this kind of news, to show pictures - and the full horror - of a collision such as this, is our job.
We might be in the business of selling newspapers, but that's not the reason we do what we do - and we are acutely aware of the sensitivities that come with working within regional communities.
We're not a big, cut-throat media organisation - nor do we aspire to be.
We do what we do because we want our readers to be aware.
We want you to be shocked, horrified, angry, upset and even furious.
Because then you are engaged.
You are participating in an important community dialogue.
I would hope the images you see today evoke the kind of emotion that causes you to really think.
Be affected. This is a life lost. It is a tragedy.
And while channelling your anger at us is kind of missing the point, hopefully the next step will be directing that emotion into making change.
Start with yourself. When you are on the road, take care. Think of these pictures.
Don't let this be a life lost in vain.
Ask yourself: What can you do to stop this happening again?
We do what we do because we want our readers to be aware.
