OCN’s decision-making process surrounding sensitive content

OCN’s reporting role concerning the vandalism at the Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum is different than most news outlets because of our local, public service nature. We focused on solutions and next steps in the healing process for the community. But our team wanted to detail our approach to the handling of sensitive content within the article.

• We blurred sensitive images and language in content that’s displayed before a reader clicks on it because at that point they have not decided to view the content.
• We did not blur the content that’s displayed after it’s been clicked because the reader has decided to read and/or view it.

Why is it important to display the images without blur after it’s been clicked?

Our team decided that it was important for readers to understand the extent of the incident by seeing it for themselves. Reporter Eric Orvieto asked local leaders whom he interviewed for the article for their opinion on whether the sensitive material should be displayed. We weighted the opinions of those who are directly impacted by the incident.

“Please do not blur the words. Whoever wrote that should be ashamed. I am not so thin skinned that I can’t handle ignorant people,”  Historic Oviedo Colored Schools Museum Board President Judith Dolores Smith said.

“I don’t have a problem with [showing it] because why are you blurring it out?” Kathy Hunt, Oviedo Citizens in Action, Inc. (OCIA) president said. “I’m fine with it. Call a spade a spade. They didn’t blur it out when they put it on there.”

“To wash it away and to paint over it, it’s still there.”

William Jackson, lifelong Oviedo resident and member of Improving Oviedo Neighborhoods (ION) said: “The photo, it’s already worldwide. Once it goes on the internet people can see it. To me, the words, that’s very minute. It’s a bigger problem than the words. Communication is the key.”