Viewing the comments here and on other local Internet sites- I've noticed a number of commenters wondering A) why it took so long to report Channel 4 weatherman Don Harman's death and/or B) by what means of suicide did Don Harman end his life.
I'll first address A)- the time issue.
Police report that Harman's death came around 5 p.m. Tuesday- but it was only on Wednesday's noon WDAF newscast that it was formally announced.
That was due- if people will read the reports- because Mr. Harman's father who was travelling- could not be immediately notified of his son's death.
Bear in mind- most news media organizations do not report confirmed suicides unless there are extenuating circumstances (a person threatening to jump off a bridge and the resulting traffic snarls for instance) or- as in this case- a celebrity or public figure is involved.
I have sent photographers on more than a few shootings that have turned out to be suicides- but unless someone else is harmed- those don't get reported.
On homicide scenes-photographers get their pictures in and around where the killing occurred as a matter of news sense.
In the vast majority of these cases- no news photog is going to stick their microphones in the faces of family or friends unless those people WANT to talk on-camera.
Then comes Point B- what mode of suicide did Don Harman choose.
To the news media or most other sensible people- this point is really irrevelent.
Whether Mr. Harman killed himself by hanging- with a gun or suffocation- what does it matter? A well-liked TV personality is dead by his own hand and THERE lies the tragedy.
Bear in mind- I hear a LOT of suicide attempts during my news monitoring shifts: by overdose- shooting- hanging- carbon monoxide- you name it.
I've also handled a surprising number of suicidal people on Internet chat rooms.
It wrenches my heart enough to hear what I do about these incidents- and it really serves no one to report specifics- name names or- if no one else is harmed- any part of the incident at all.
We need to really focus on the tragedy and finality of suicide as in was there anything whatsoever we can or could have done to help prevent same.
