Newsagencies are like taxis, customer comments at the counter can provide an excellent pulse of community opinion.
The death of Steve Irwin on Monday afternoon provoked an outpouring at our newsagency counter today unlike any I have seen in my ten years except for the death of Princess Diana. I am sure our experience is not unique. From people old and young, the outpouring was heartfelt. Many who would not usually do so, purchased newspapers just to read about him. It says something about the man. In hindsight, it is a pity that it took his death for us to take him to out collective heart.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your perspective, there is bound to be a commercial consequence of his death. Features in newspapers and magazines. Maybe once off publications. A published part work series of his TV shows. The reaction in the last 24 hours suggests any and all of these would be a winner. Crucial to any such exploitation would be to spread his message of conservation.