Not reporting also limits backlash when preventable things happen. I don't see running a graphic picture to be substantially different than reporting the details on that guy the Sauidis sawed up. One man's bubble wrap is another man's sweeping things under the rug.

In the case of the plane that was shot down, you can lobby your government to actually give a shit and do something about it. But hey, it happened to them and not us, so why should we care, right? Graphic imagery showing that they are humans too might help people understand that it's not a 'us vs. them' thing.