Attack deserved more of Spec’s front page

RE: Manchester attack coverage

Monday night I watched several TV channels report the tragedy in Manchester, England. CNN were ahead of the curve, interviewing witnesses and announcing that the bomber had been identified around 10 p.m. (our time,) by British police.

Timidity is the only noun I can think of in describing Canada’s national broadcaster — CBC’s description of the tragedy as an explosion in Manchester, was limp and almost apologetic to viewers who may be offended by this horrific news.

At 6:30 on May 23, I collected our Spec from the mailbox where your wonderful carrier Mary leaves it every morning, regardless of hail, sleet or snow. Glanced at the front page through the pink plastic, and … nothing. A tragic terror attack against woman and children in a country that Canada has a special relationship with — nothing.

The front page of a newspaper is the enticement, the seduction to sit down and absorb yourself in local and global news — good or bad. I didn’t read that Spec, it’s all neat and folded in the blue box. Later this morning in Fortinos on Main Street, I stopped at the magazine / newspaper display rack. U.S. newspapers carried the Manchester story front page as did Canada’s other newspapers. Then, there was The Hamilton Spectator sitting on the far right bottom rack looking like last week’s paper that someone had forgot to replace. Robert Boag, Dundas