Bin Laden's dead body photos: Are we CSI?

There's been a long running debate if newspapers and media should publish images of death.

What makes a photo of a dead body newsworthy?

The issue has once again been raised with the possibility of the U.S. military releasing photos of a dead, and mostly likely bloody, shot-up Osama bin Laden.

Of course, there are no rules, only guidelines and judgments.

Without seeing the photos, it is always tough to make a decision. If the photo is extremely graphic, for example, one contemplates either not using it at all, or using it on an inside page, where it will not ruin the breakfast appetite of our readers.

On the other hand, the death of bin Laden was no ordinary death or even ordinary homicide. This was the most sought after terrorist in the world.

Would we expect our readers to endure more death images and more gore when we're mostly glad the man is dead?

We ask ourselves: What does this photo tell the readers that the story and the print can't or don't tell?

With conspiracy theorism on the rise in the U.S. (i.e. Obama's birth certificate), should we publish the "real McCoy" dead Osama photo to prove to such theorists they're wrong, and silly? Do we have to prove bin Laden is dead? Will a photograph in the newspaper prove that?

Maybe the photo tells us the degree to which bin Laden was shot. Once, twice, multiple times. Would that tell us the nature of the military tactics involved or shed light on the people who did the shooting?

Would the photo show us bin Laden was gaunt and skinny and weak or fat and sedentary? How much of this do we need to know?

Will we be able to sell more newspapers if we run the photo? Will our competition run it and we'll look stupid by not running it?

I can tell you that it would be my bet that more people would buy our newspaper off the newsstand (about 10 percent of all sales) if we had a picture of a dead bin Laden on the front.

Just my hunch after about 25 years experience in this business. That isn't always a reason to publish. Some of our longtime subscribers (90 percent of our circulation) might be offended and cancel their subscription.

Tell us what you think. We've set up a discussion on our Facebook page, (Facebook.com/mankatofreepress) or e-mail us at editor@mankatofreepress.com