A stark example of this dilemma facing the media occurred this past week when NBC received and chose to air videos made by Virginia Tech mass murderer Cho Seung-hui, in which he spelled out his hate-filled manifesto, and posed with weapons. Cho sent the videos after fatally shooting a female student and a dormitory assistant on Monday morning. After mailing the tapes to NBC, he headed to another building on the campus and killed a teacher and another 29 students, as well injuring about 30 others, with the pistols seen in the tapes before killing himself. It was the deadliest school shooting in US history and it left the world in shock.

NBC has since come under heavy fire for its broadcasting of the tapes. The station stood by its decision, reasoning that the tapes were aired to give a clear picture of why Cho committed such an appalling crime. However, an overwhelming number of critics argue that what NBC did has had the adverse effect of publicising Cho's psychopathic platform and that it might inspire others to follow in his path. Other media professionals, however, have said that NBC could have been more discreet in its coverage of the Cho tapes by cutting out parts deemed too offensive or provocative.

While NBC received its fair share of fallout for the choices it made over half the world away, journalists here in Thailand were faced with a dilemma of their own, albeit perhaps one unobserved by most. Last Thursday a mass-circulation Thai-language newspaper reported on a growing number of Thai teenagers becoming obsessed with a Japanese Internet game in which players achieve high scores by stealing sex from a sleeping young woman. The report, which quoted government agencies, came with a big headline that screamed about how the game is becoming a craze among Thai minors. The story itself even provided some details as to how the game is played, and concluded with a smaller portion quoting representatives from concerned agencies who said they were planning to block the website offering the game.

From one perspective, such a report could help alert government authorities and parents and help them control minors' access to inappropriate computer games. On the other hand, the prominent publicity the newspaper gave to the Japanese sex game could raise interest in it among many previously unaware minors or even adults.

Although the website in question may have been blocked, it might be too late. One need only take a look at the cheap pornographic DVDs available at markets throughout Bangkok and in all other provinces to surmise what will happen to a lurid game that has made big headlines in a mass-circulation newspaper.

Aside from the game, another dilemma facing Thai journalists has been how to report on the craze surrounding Jatukham Rammathep amulets.

Public demand for these had already hit a fever pitch since the man who created them died at age 106 last year. But the publicity the media has given the amulets has undeniably helped spread the craze following his cremation in February. The craze surrounding the amulets has been growing steadily, with no sign of waning anytime soon. So-called "Jatukham fever" has even resulted in the death of one woman and the injury of several others following a stampede recently at a Buddhist temple selling the amulets. The craze has also opened the door for con men to make easy money by selling fake copies to unsuspecting consumers.

For media professionals anywhere, the question of how to report on stories with differing degrees of sensitivity is a substantive part of their jobs as journalists and it must be handled with the utmost care. Perfection can not be guaranteed in every editorial decision, but those responsible can learn from their past mistakes and use them to inform their future choices.