Horrific images in a handsome package

News comes to consumers in a package — or a template. Most of the time, this container is barely noticeable. But when it becomes visible, it's usually because the story doesn't seem to fit the box it came in.

This week we are addressing a question about NPR's photojournalism platform called The Picture Show. A reader wondered if its name made it an inappropriate vehicle for war photos.

I, personally, love this question because it gave us permission to explore a corner of NPR where powerful pictures tell serious stories. War photography plays an outsized role in history. Pictures from World War II, Vietnam or even recently Afghanistan changed public opinion in ways that words could not. Those stark images were occasionally delivered in containers that were designed for more elegant subjects. Think of Life magazine, a large-format, glossy publication designed to showcase stunning photos.

Often, the power of journalism comes in the delivery. When consumers are used to seeing