I cannot imagine commissioning that person to write a piece. Well, not more than once.

Public executions were not abolished out of tenderness towards the criminal. They were abolished because of the effect on the people watching, and the dangers of making human death a source of commercial entertainment. Here's Charles Dickens in The Times, after witnessing an execution in 1849.

I can't think of anything I'd rather my London council tax was spent on than ensuring London kids get a decent meal once a day.

Hmm. Time to stockpile loo-roll again?

These pale into insignificance compared to the public safety films we were shown in school as children. Anyone remember the one set on the farm (children died one by one from rat poison, drowning in slurry tanks, getting caught in farm machinery etc?) Nightmares for weeks.

If they're published via a publishing house, it's up to the publisher to pay for proofing (unless they're too cheap, of course). I'm an indie author and I pay my own proof-reader, out of my own pocket.