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Va. Tech: Media right to broadcast killer's videos
Media isn't moral compass of society
By: Ali Qari
Issue date: 5/4/07 Section: Ed-Op
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 3:02 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 3:04 AM EST
Originally published: 5/4/07 at 3:02 AM EST
Last update: 5/4/07 at 3:04 AM EST
The morning of Thursday, April 12 saw Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech murderer, on the cover of the always-tasteful Daily News. Here was the man who killed 32 people facing me with a look of hate in his eyes pointing the barrel of the gun. Still shaken by the tragedy that Monday, I became flush with rage, disgust and disappointment at my media peers.
It was too soon. I couldn't believe NBC would distribute these images. Why should this monster get to have his last hurrah broadcast over and over by the media? Did media outlets do it for the money? Shock value? Did they have any respect for the families of victims?
One of my journalism professors appeared neutral on the issue when I spoke with her. I made sure she knew I considered this a media atrocity.
When I got back to The Triangle office later that day, I talked with my news editors about the cover of the Daily News, and then realized I hadn't even seen the footage NBC had aired the night before.
I went to NBC's Web site and straight to the video. In a truly anti-journalistic fashion, I was already prejudging it, letting my anger cloud my conclusions.
It began with a Brian Williams disclaimer, saying that they handed over the "multimedia manifesto" over to authorities, but not until they made their own copy of course. As I watched the video, it was hard to look at the screen.
I felt disturbed, and I couldn't meet Cho's burning eyes with my own. When I got through the video, I realized the value of airing of the tapes. I remembered why journalism and the media are such an important part of society.
If watching the video proves anything, it is that Cho was a sick young man. I'm not trained in psychology or psychotherapy, but as a semi-intelligent consumer of information, I derived from the NBC video that Cho's mannerisms and speech are the result of a severely depressed, angry and unstable person.
I don't sympathize with his actions in the slightest, but the video NBC aired told a troubling story. I feel that somewhere down the line, in terms of mental health treatment, Cho was failed (which could be his own fault for not seeking treatment).
It was too soon. I couldn't believe NBC would distribute these images. Why should this monster get to have his last hurrah broadcast over and over by the media? Did media outlets do it for the money? Shock value? Did they have any respect for the families of victims?
One of my journalism professors appeared neutral on the issue when I spoke with her. I made sure she knew I considered this a media atrocity.
When I got back to The Triangle office later that day, I talked with my news editors about the cover of the Daily News, and then realized I hadn't even seen the footage NBC had aired the night before.
I went to NBC's Web site and straight to the video. In a truly anti-journalistic fashion, I was already prejudging it, letting my anger cloud my conclusions.
It began with a Brian Williams disclaimer, saying that they handed over the "multimedia manifesto" over to authorities, but not until they made their own copy of course. As I watched the video, it was hard to look at the screen.
I felt disturbed, and I couldn't meet Cho's burning eyes with my own. When I got through the video, I realized the value of airing of the tapes. I remembered why journalism and the media are such an important part of society.
If watching the video proves anything, it is that Cho was a sick young man. I'm not trained in psychology or psychotherapy, but as a semi-intelligent consumer of information, I derived from the NBC video that Cho's mannerisms and speech are the result of a severely depressed, angry and unstable person.
I don't sympathize with his actions in the slightest, but the video NBC aired told a troubling story. I feel that somewhere down the line, in terms of mental health treatment, Cho was failed (which could be his own fault for not seeking treatment).
tata borres
posted 5/04/07 @ 8:16 PM EST
I totally agree with your journalistic principles. It is indeed right for the media to feed the public, issues of vital concern, be it bad or good as long as the facts arent twisted and suppressed and in accord to media's fair reporting standard and practices. (Continued…)