Josh Powell tragedy: It's the newsroom's job to shine light in dark places

Read an additional perspective from Amanda Dickson here.

I agree with Amanda. I did not want to hear what happened to the Powell boys.

But more than I did not want to hear it, I wish it had never happened.

As a decision-maker at KSL, let me offer an explanation about why we reported the information we did. I am also a mother. My son is 5, the same age as the youngest victim in this case. Every day since that house blew up, I have looked at my own son and wondered, how? How can a parent do this to his own child? How can anyone do something like this?

There are no answers.

On that Sunday, as news broke of two little boys killed in a fire that started at the hands of their father, we thought the story couldn't get any worse. As the week progressed, we realized we were wrong.

More horrific details started to surface and it quickly became clear that Josh Powell was not who he claimed to be. He was not a victimized father. Josh Powell was a cold-blooded killer and his own children were his victims.

Whether right or wrong, the manner in which this father killed his children does reveal more of his character. If Josh Powell was capable of that, what else was he capable of? That detail changed the story.

At KSL, we have had many internal discussions about how to deal with the Powell story.

There are hundreds of pages of documents and search warrants all containing other very disturbing information that we have chosen not to report. This story has been incredibly hard for our newsrooms to cover. But when I think about how difficult it is for us to report the information, I have to remind myself of the law enforcement officers who are investigating every detail of this sordid case — how hard it must be for them. And all of that pales in comparison to what the family of the Powell boys is enduring. My heart breaks for them.

Yet they are not shrinking from the details. Chuck and Judy Cox are talking openly. I believe it's because they hope that their story will in some way help protect others. I hope that, too.

When journalism is at its best, our job is to shine a light in dark places. I can't think of a place much darker than this. Our job is to report the story, no matter how difficult, and allow the public to decide what to do with the information.

My hope is that what happened to Charlie and Braden Powell will force us to pay more attention to the rights of children, to work harder to offer other children in danger greater protection.

And, if nothing else, I hope this heart-breaking story will encourage us all to slow down and show our own children more love and affection.

Tanya Vea is executive vice president of news for KSL.