shocking story on the news - on-air shooting
So...a moral/ethical dilemma for debate.
This morning I watched two truly shocking, horrible, frightening videos.
You've probably seen the news reports of the two journalists shot and killed on the air in Virginia this morning. The reporter is in the middle of an interview about tourism in the area when shots ring out. You hear screams, and after the camera falls to the ground, you see a brief glimpse of the shooter. Then the video cuts to the studio, where the anchor has a shocked look on her face.
This morning I watched two truly shocking, horrible, frightening videos.
You've probably seen the news reports of the two journalists shot and killed on the air in Virginia this morning. The reporter is in the middle of an interview about tourism in the area when shots ring out. You hear screams, and after the camera falls to the ground, you see a brief glimpse of the shooter. Then the video cuts to the studio, where the anchor has a shocked look on her face.
You may or may not have seen the second video. The shooter posted it to his social media accounts, and although his accounts have been shut down, the video continues to circulate in various forums. It has not, to my knowledge, been shown by any news agency. He shot the video as he stalked the two victims, you can see the gun, you can see the reporter being shot. It's chilling.
So the question for debate. Should either of these videos be broadcast on the news? Should either be suppressed? Why or why not?
So the question for debate. Should either of these videos be broadcast on the news? Should either be suppressed? Why or why not?
Suppressed. The victims' families are traumatized enough by what happened, for one. The other is that I think it glorifies the violence, and we really have enough going on without some nutjob getting the idea that he/she can go out in a blaze of glory by filming themselves shooting up their victims.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, NBC didn't show the actual shooting -- I saw the video on CNN's website. And Rachel Maddow made a point of saying that she refused to give the shooter what he wanted.
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