Thinking back on my entry-level journalism course, we were taught what material is considered “newsworthy.” Any information that is prominent, is entertaining or is out of the ordinary usually qualifies.

So what do we make of the extreme out-of-the-ordinary news, the news that defies logic, makes you question mankind, makes you squeamish?

I’m not referring to the car crash phenomenon. Everybody is familiar with this, whether you know it by name or not. You’re driving along and see a horrible accident. You slow to look at it, unable to avert your eyes from the miserable scene taking place.

The horror you witness is unfortunate, but you slow, take a look, shake your head with a “what a shame” attitude and go about your day.

Unfortunately enough, violence and freak accidents have almost become commonplace in news today.

What is coming to replace the typical extreme news is more disturbing and profound. These stories are usually hidden deep within newspapers or require you to do a bit of research. Nevertheless, they are being reported on and cannot be ignored.

The Sydney Morning Herald out of Australia recently made reports of an incestuous couple having two children.

A South Australian woman, Anne Deaves and her father, Earnest Deaves reunited after about 30 years, divorced their respective spouses at the time, began an intimate relationship and birthed two children.

The couple pleaded guilty to two acts of incest in the South Australian District Court in late March. One child was taken into protective custody. The other child died shortly after birth due to heart disease.

This case is cited as an “atypical” case of incest because the relationship was mutually consensual.

Although the two were charged with incest and lost their children, a slew of tough questions regarding this case remained unanswered.

The judge who heard the case commented upon the consequences of incest, mainly regarding the effects on the child including sexual abuse, birth defects and psychological harm.

To me, it seems much of this mystery remains unsolved. Of course, bearing a child from an incestuous relationship is indeed problematic, to say the least. With protective custody laws, such an issue can be, after time, resolved.

Another news value that is particularly interesting regarding a case like this is the journalist’s job to report not only the fact, but the truth behind the fact.

What truths can journalists arrive at about a father and daughter’s sexual, consensual relationship?

Similarly, what can readers conclude from such an innately disturbing news story?

Such cases are making their way into mainstream media, forcing readers to grapple with these incomprehensible acts of immorality.

I’m not sure how the public will respond to these increasingly complex news stories that move far beyond out-of-the-ordinary news. I can only hope that the reason behind these reports disappears along with the reports about it.