The most professional newspaper coverage of the A-I tragedy in Mangalore

The loss of human life is always a terrible thing. But when the first hint of a disaster arrives in newsrooms, it's the logistics of the ensuing coverage that dominates the thoughts of the people in charge. Decisions are made at this point about sending reporters and photographers to the spot, about calling in extra staff, about making room for all the stories coming in from different sources.

Another important point of debate: What should Page One look like?

On the day after Air India flight IX-182 crashed while landing at Mangalore airport, it's Bangalore's DNA that stood tall in terms of coverage, with reports and pictures that explored every aspect of the latest tragic chapter in the history of modern civil aviation.

Look at Page One:

 

This front page reflects professionalism of the highest order. No other paper in Bangalore had a front page dominated by a picture in this fashion. DNA's editors also focused, rightly, on one of the survivors when deciding the banner headline. And the newspaper management, in an exemplary gesture of sensitivity, and also to make space for the news, chucked out the front page ads, including the ear panels.

There were 10 other pages in the paper providing what it called "hypercoverage" of the tragedy. And the lead story in After Hrs, the features supplement, focused on air crashes too.

Undoubtedly, a comprehensive, coordinated, concerted effort. Not easy at the best of times, devilishly difficult at the worst of times. So kudos to Team DNA.

• Arpan Bhattacharyya (Class of 2010) comments: Just one word: SUPER!
  
  ToI had an ad saying, ironically enough, "Impact Readymade — Raymond". Rather tasteless. But desperate TIMES calls for desperate...