"A SOAF helicopter has been shot down in Dhofar, killing two British pilots; next of kin have
NOT yet been informed."
Isn't all that different from the MoD's announcement below which kicked-off this thread, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a journalist that broadcast the aircraft type and unit details on here that caused much of the outrage.
The MOD can confirm that a UK helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan
today, 26 April 2014.
The incident is under investigation and the process of notifying next of kin
is under way. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this
time.
If the MoD/ISAF choose to announce the loss of the helicopter before the next-of-kin have been informed, you can't blame the media for reporting it. If servicemen who should know better then start putting specific details out into the public domain, then again it isn't the fault of the media who report it.
It's just a tad hypocritical to blaming the messenger, when I'd wager that most of those on this forum (ie; all those without direct involvment with the incident or the investigation) will be going to those same media sources in order to try and find out more information.
Separately, happy to see Gnd has sobered up and removed his post.