Horse deaths

I imagine that tomorrow I will receive telephone calls as to why we haven't covered the tragic story about scores of horses dying in Hyde Heath.
As an editor it is incredibly frustrating when something comes to light just as your paper has passed the deadline, and that is exactly what happened with this story. I had literally just finished reading the last proof and okayed all the pages when the phones started ringing and we became aware that something was going on in the Amersham area.
The RSPCA put out a press release at about 2pm, but the details were sketchy and all they would say was that horses had been found dead in the Amersham area.
My reporters quickly started phoning around their contacts while my phone was ringing hot from Sky News the BBC and other national newspapers all trying to discover where the tragedy was unfolding.
Eventually we managed to get details confirmed at about 3.30pm and were able to upload a story to the web at 3.40pm, far too late for the printed version of the paper.
This is where technology will play its part. In years gone by we would have had to wait a whole week until we could cover the story properly. Now with the wonders of the web we will be able to put a more comprehensive story and pictures out on Thursday morning and keep the story updated during the week.
For all those people who miss the story being in tomorrow's Examiner I apologise, but believe me no one is more frustrated by the situation than I am. This is a truly sickening story and the people responsible will be named and shamed. I just hope the RSPCA are able to prosecute and that arrests are made soon. Those responsible need to pay for the suffering they have put these poor animals through.

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