Va Tech Shooter sends "images, letter" to NBC

The CNN item doesn't say why they are shelving them. Viewer complaints? Guilty conscience? NBC fussing at them for stealing the stuff?

 

The memo, while managing to misspell 'usage,' doesn't specify a reason. Again, I can't vouch for the authenticity of the thing, but Gawker receives a fair amount of very accurate media leakage.

 

Maybe it's the same principle for why the nets eventually stopped showing the planes crashing into the buildings. It's been out there, it's been seen, it's not news anymore. News is generally "new."

I don't see a problem with the memo.

 

Slate media critic Jack Shafer checks in
http://www.slate.com/id/2164717/

Really? I'm a bit confused by Shaffer's stance. It seems to say that the role of media in a case like this is to throw everything against the wall and see what sticks. But that seems contrary to media's role as a gatekeeper. Isn't that the whole point of having editors? Showing some judgment and the whole wheat from the chaff premise.
Shaffer seems to be saying that news is like porn and if you don't like it you don't have to watch, but if you want to be informed about what is going on, well then you are shit out of luck because the news is going to be showing the most violent, horrible images whether you like it or not.

 

If somebody has never played a professional sport, do they really have any business critiquing the performances of those who do? I think most of us would answer yes to my question; is yours demonstrably different?

 

You're welcome, Jack. :

 

Let's just make sure it's crystal clear that JackS and Jack Shafer are not one in the same, just in case anybody thinks I bought your argument.

 

I think the original posting had Shafer giving credit to 21, but Boom deleted it.

 

NBC News should not have shown footage from the video and other presentation.

Obviously, the tape should become part of the evidence. I think showing still photos from the tape and having the words read and put on a graphic could tell the story.

This is not a "scoop" or anything NBC News worked for or investigated in an effort to get a story. They got the package because a demented person decided to send it to NBC instead of CBS, ABC, CNN or Fox.

There needs to be sympathy and empathy toward the families of the victims. There needs to be empathy toward all the students of Virginia Tech. This could have been done by telling the story in a respectful way and not showing video.

 

I can see both sides on this issue. I wish NBC hadn't aired the video, yet I made sure to see the 6:30 p.m. NBC news the unveiled it so I guess I am a perfect person to talk on the subject.

NBC obviously received a huge ratings jump from it, which shouldn't matter from the journalistic perspective, but we all know that it does. I thought it was interesting that NBC chose to mention the family members of victims backing out of interviews because of the airing.

I probably would have had more respect for NBC if they said, "We received this package. It had pictures of the gunman holding guns in a number of poses and a video dialogue that rambled at times. We've passed it on to the FBI and chosen not to run it." Go ahead and report on the information but not use Cho's own video or pics.

 

Do you realize how sanctimonious and self-congratulatory that would have sounded?

 

Sanctimonious vs. encouraging psychopaths.

Hmmm, I wonder which is preferable.