Media Circus Following Virgina Tech Shootings
19 Apr
The moment I heard that NBC received a package from the gunman in the Virginia Tech shootings, I was curious. I hoped there would be a letter or something explaining what was going on in the gunman’s mind to cause him to do such a heinous thing. I was watching NBC last night and saw the promos which appeared to be hyping up the video to get ratings. If the videos contained information that the public needed to hear as to why this senseless act happened, why were they holding it until the Today Show the next morning? I decided that I didn’t want to see it. I find it offensive that they would dare show any portion of the video. If I watched it I would be colluding with them by helping their ratings. They should not have shown the video of respect for the victims. The photos I saw had the gunman in what seemed to be movie poster type poses which to me seemed inappropriate to show. Another reason the video should not have been shown is that it might give some other potential murder an idea about how to get his or her 15 seconds of infamy – just send your glossies and video tape to NBC.
From the beginning it has seemed that the media was doing what they tend to do – trying to get the most ratings. A lot of the reports I have seen have seemed callous and unsympathetic. Even some of the wording choices seem too sensationalized. I find it offensive and I don’t even know anyone who was affected.
In this time, I think the media should focus on the victims and on the senselessness in the act itself. Leave the campus police alone. Lay off the gun control debate for a minute at least. Hold off on blaming video games. Step down off your soap boxes. It is not a time to place blame with anyone other than the gunman himself. It would also be good to put some focus on mental health care and how important it is to saving lives.
I was, however, touched by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America on Tuesday when she had one victim’s brother and sister on. She was human. Humanity is what we need.
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