Here's a nice example of how to turn a wedding anniversary story into something else ... in this case the splash. The couple, Ron Everest and Eileen Campbell, were pictured as a carnival bride and groom 87 years ago, when they were four. Seventeen years later they married and yesterday they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. For many papers it could have been a down-page picture towards the back of the book. For today's Eastern Daily Press, with some great old pictures and anecdotes, it's a splash and a wipe-out of Pages 2 and 3. A first rate mix of nostalgia and human interest ... and only something local newspapers can do.
Most British editors decided to use the picture of the bloodied man on their front pages on Thursday ... but not all. The Daily Express, for example, opted out, choosing instead an incongruous picture of the Duchess of Cambridge in a bright yellow dress. In the regions, the Eastern Daily Press also chose not to put blood on its front page. It opted instead for a floral tribute to the dead soldier with a warning to readers that there were graphic photographs on pages 8 and 9. Today editor Nigel Pickover explains the decision in his Editor's Chair column. He writes: "The sickening picture of the alleged culprit came in from TV sources – and I knew this would be front page news for every national newspaper. But not in the Eastern Daily Press. I felt the picture was too horrific, just too graphic, for our title’s front page. So, with a warning on page one, the picture was printed inside – readers had something of a viewing choice as they picked up their EDP." A brave stance but is it the right one? Well when it comes to copytasting, there is no right and wrong - just differences of opinion. I know many national newspaper journalists who were uneasy about the front page coverage on Thursday ... but felt reluctant to express their disquiet. Pickover is an experienced, hugely respected editor with good judgment, who knows his readers well. And that's what editors do - make judgments, make difficult decisions on behalf of their readers. What is definitely right, though, is that he shared his reasoning with his readers.
