Domestic Abuse Photographs

To begin, I took a good look at the photo journal itself.  I had to see what exactly had transpired.  What I found, unsurprisingly, was something very dark and very sad.  Maggie’s story is a tragic one.  What is equally as unfortunate is the fact that Memphis and Kayden were subjected to such negative childhood experiences.  Such moments, I believe, can have a significantly negative impact on one’s development.  My reactions beyond that were mixed.  I am happy that Shane is in jail.  I am hopeful that Maggie’s experience with him will set her and her children on a brighter path.  I am intrigued by what this could mean for journalism. 

The main issue, it appears, is the one of Sara Lewkowicz’s roll in the photography of the events leading up to the incident and the physical attack itself.  I do not believe that attacks just happen.  Shane clearly had a pre-disposition for violence due to his previous jail time.  He probably showed signs of violent tendencies throughout.  This clearly puts Lewkowicz at a conflict of interest.  On the one hand, a violent, dark, and moody Shane creates and interesting antagonist for her story.  Unfortunately, his “character type” causes drama that sells.  I would support this by pointing out that a majority of the pictures taken of Shane portray him as such.  Part of her probably did not want to intervene into any relationship issues in order to preserve the good and evil dynamic of her story.  On the other hand, she has a responsibility as an informed bystander to act.  I do not disagree with the way she individually handled the attack.  I am more disappointed that her and the two other adults in the room did not intervene as a unit.  All that aside, it seems to me that she sold her soul by picking the former and getting the photographs.  I would be greatly surprised if she was never present during a moment that foreshadowed the attack to come.  The fact that she failed to act on this knowledge and perhaps talk to either Maggie or a domestic abuse organization is not a credit to her character.  If I were her, I would have attempted to correct the situation at an earlier point, before the children were subject to such maltreatment of their mother. 

I will stop attempting to destroy her character there.  Ironically, her story could be the major headline that Domestic Abuse Prevention Organizations need to spread their message and their services.  Her photographs could be the wake up call for those in a violent relationship to get out and get help.  Ultimately, debating what she should have or could have done is a pointless.  She made a calculated decision and now has to live with the consequences.  Each journalist put in that position will have to do the same.  It is unreasonable to write a step-by-step code for the way journalists are supposed to handle starkly unique situations like this.  Going forward, I hope the lessons from this photo journal will help.