Second-Guessing On Use Of Cho Pictures

Were News Organizations Justified In Airing Shooter's Manifesto Photos?

(AP)  Here were beyond-the-grave messages from a man who had just committed the worst school massacre in modern U.S. history. It was beginning to emerge he had a creepy past; here was stunning confirmation.

2NBC and others believed the information could help the public understand some of the reasons behind Cho's rampage. At the very least, it could give authorities a blueprint for behavior they should look out for in troubled young people. The material released to the public was a small portion of what Cho had sent, NBC's Brian Williams said.

"You can't say this has no news value," said David Rubin, dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. "It does. It's obvious to anybody who has been in the news business for a nanosecond."

To a certain degree, NBC was faced with a no-win decision reminiscent of when The New York Times reported in 2005 on the National Security Agency's domestic eavesdropping policy. The Times was criticized in some circles for reporting the story at all, and in others for delaying its release several months to nail down the reporting.

If NBC did not reveal the contents of Cho's messages, its executives would have certainly been criticized for suppressing the news. What were they trying to hide?

"There was a justifiable journalistic purpose (in releasing the pictures) and I believe NBC took the ethics challenge seriously and made a reasonable decision," Steele said.

Two factors undermined the media's moral authority in this case, however.

One was NBC's decision to "brand" the Cho videos and pictures with an "NBC News" logo. Networks traditionally do this to remind people of an exclusive, even when the pictures are seen elsewhere. Some critics thought that inappropriate in a case where it was only "exclusive" because that's where Cho addressed his package. It might also not have been the wisest public relations decision, given that it constantly reminds people angry about the pictures who was responsible for releasing them.

Not even 24 hours after the images were first televised, news organizations that used them were noticeably backpedaling. Fox News Channel said it was a mistake to air them, while CNN, CBS, ABC and NBC all said they would severely restrict their use.

That can be viewed as nothing better than putting a new padlock on a stable after the horse has galloped off down the road. The pictures rapidly lose their news value after their initial release and, after one news cycle, their use can appear gratuitous.

Trying to have it both ways can, to customers, be more damaging than taking a stand one way or another.

"The organizations that appear to be backing off are doing so at their own peril," Steele said.

[oleander8]

P.S. All you angry people that want to turn this into a political discussion are just plain nuts. This has nothing to do with Bush and his gang, or Republicans in general.

[oleander8]

"NBC and others believed the information could help the public understand some of the reasons behind Cho's rampage."

I don't believe this for a second - "help the public"?? Get off the cross. This was sensationalism at it's worst. The general public was apalled and angry at this validation of a maniac. He got everything he wanted - and the media set the stage for another maniac to do the same.

[jacksteen1]

Ravings of a lunatic ? How about that sad, one-page speech that George Bush delivered over and over and over again in 2000 that "got him elected"? I laugh as I type those words, 'cuz we all know his Daddy's Supreme Court handed him the election...no one voted him to be anything.

So what's the diff ?

This cross-eyed CVhong was a murderous dog...he killed dozens of innocents.....it's news.

Run the photos of the carnage in the classrooms so the Republishit Party supporters can see what their gun lobby has made possible.

[samthetvcat]

PS WOW - Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear about your precious daughter. I will say a prayer for you and her tonight. You know Bill O'Reilley can be so annoying but I watch his show to keep in tune with what others think on the other side of the political spectrum and he's really good about holding lenient judges accountable - he might want to hear about your story.

[samthetvcat]

It's kind of a fine line sometimes I guess because it seemed like CBS had begun to pull away from the focus on the gunman and then NBC released all the pictures and videos and stuff and I'll bet the site hits on CBS started dropping like flies, thereby pressuring them to meet public interest in the horror show.

Maybe I feel some loyalty to CBS since I hang out here so much, but I do feel like NBC does bear some special responsibility in this instance, especially after having looked at the contents and heard the references to Columbine and knowing copycat incidents had started to crop up all over the country.

I did notice though that none of the news stations have been showing the photo of the NASA gunman and that the focus really hasn't been on the gunman - I don't know what the appropriate protocol ought to be now . . . like maybe once might be okay (?) I don't know though . . . maybe better to err on the side of caution (?) Or maybe it just hasn't been released yet (?)

[drew30319-2009]

By the way, CBSNews.com also showed a horrible lapse in judgement on the day of the murders. They had a large graphic proclaiming "BLOODBATH IN BLACKSBURG."

It's shameful when journalistic fervor overrides basic humanity.

[drew30319-2009]

I thought much more of NBC News prior to their misguided "journalistic judgement." Their national spotlight on the ravings of a cowardly sociopath is a slap in the face to the victims and their families.

Understand something - please.

Our focus, as a society, needs to be on Victims and their rights, not on the criminals.

Tomorrow is the beginning of National Crime Victims Week. If you have a chance please attend a memorial service and spend some time educating yourselves about the victims of crime.

My high-school student daughter was murdered last year by an ex-boyfriend. He had just recently been released from a "boot camp" program after three months. He had committed three felonies.

Less than a month after his release he murdered my daughter with a shotgun and left her body in the woods.

If the judge that "slapped his wrist" had focused more on the victims of his crime rather than "going easy" on a criminal she would still be alive.

Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

[likeitis5050]

But Katie and Matt put on their most serious and thoughtful expressions when they prefaced how long and hard they had thought before showing what had been sent to them...THEM...the gunman knew the media wouldn't be able to muster the integrity to refuse. It is possible to report the news without glorifying gore and disrespecting victims' families and survivors still dealing with the horror only hours old, but it requires putting others who are suffering first. We have no one in any vein of news today who can walk away from a story if it means it will do more harm or disrespect at the time. Their awards and notoriety come first. There was no reason to air that ***...not then, not now, not ever. This maniac has gotten exactly what he hoped to get...and he knew who to send it to for that to happen. NBC bombed.

[colonieny]

For all their high and mighty attitute, NBC again shows itself be what it is.
Please just say you are sorry and apologise to the country and the families. NBC , you are a sleezy outfit. Can't you do better ?


Why do you think this nut decided to send the tapes to NBC ?

[victoriarum]

With all due respect for the victims regardless who it is, the pictures should have been handed over to the authorities at that moment, as it is evidence, compiled it then released to us, the viewer.

What happen to ethics in journalism?

Pray for Peace, Joy, and Love. God Bless.

[jacksteen1]

The rest of the world media run pictures every day of Islami beheadings, brutal Darfur atrocities, and, when it occurred, Americans jumping from the windows of the WTC and splatting on the sidewalks. Our own media here choses to sanitize our news by never showing us the reality of what has happened.

I think if we were to see some of these atrocities, we wouldn't allow them to continue - like the Darfur situation (never-ending) and gun violence (ditto).

I say run pictures of the carnage in those classrooms to show the Republicrap defenders of 'freedom to own guns' what their stupidity has wrought on our nation.

[luckygirl042]

The picture of Cho with 2 guns in his hands, wearing a military vest was splattered all over the news media, looking like a poster for a movie or video game. The media appeared to validate Cho by playing, and replaying ad nauseaum his maniacal rants as if they actually had any merit.
It is scary to think that they may have resonated with some other maniac out there who is waiting for a reason to crawl out from under his rock. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech but the media must learn to use some restraint.

[wvce]

The news media should be ashamed of themselves for giving that murderer a public platform. That was exactly what he wanted and they gave it to him. Every deranged malcontent in the world was taking notice as well. Also, I can only imagine how much more violated the families of those victims must have felt watching and listening to the person responsible every time they turned on the television or saw a newspaper.

One more thing, I think the media is being far too generous in referring to that man's words as a "manifesto". Karl Marx wrote a manifesto. Thomas Jefferson wrote a manifesto. What the media broadcasted was nothing more than the ravings of a lunatic.