Take your role more seriously in future

You need to send a consistent message that violence, misogyny and bullying is not acceptable and certainly shouldn't be used for cheap laughs.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (left) and Deputy Premier and Treasurer Jackie Trad (right) are seen at the announcement of the major contractors who have been appointed to build the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane, Thursday, April 4, 2019. Picture: DARREN ENGLAND

I HAVE never been moved so much that I felt the need to write a formal complaint.

I am absolutely appalled by the imagery used for this cover.

I understand that you need to grab the public's attention but this is just totally irresponsible. The setting you display is the boys club vs one woman. Worse still is that the woman is displayed in a gun view finder as a target.

How did you think this was OK?

In the next edition you may be writing about yet another death by domestic violence and citing the horrific statistics. You need to send a consistent message that violence, misogyny and bullying is not acceptable and certainly shouldn't be used for cheap laughs.

Every word, every image and every scene you set has influence.

Maybe it would be useful to adopt these words from Waleed of The Project after the Christchurch massacre as your mantra:

"Everything we say to try to tear people apart, demonise particular groups, set them against each other, that all has consequences, even if we are not the ones with our fingers on the trigger.”

We even teach school children to adopt the THINK review process before speaking and writing on social media:

T - is it True, H - is it Helpful, I - is it Inspiring, N - is it Necessary, K - is it Kind?

I hope I see you taking your role as the caretaker of public opinion more seriously in future editions.

SAM JEFFERD

Originally published as Take your role more seriously in future