Most of the free world is familiar by now with the fact that NBC news has received and aired the media package sent by Cho Seung-Hui, the perpetrator of the Virginia Tech massacre earlier this week.
The question in my mind is, “Why did they feel the need to air this material?”
Their answer so far is one that confuses me. They seem to think that, from these materials, we should learn how to anticipate the breakdown of a person’s mind. Indeed, Cho presents a portrait of a man whose mind has completely snapped. The photographs are chilling . The video is beyond disturbing.
And yet, Cho’s roommates were unable to recognize the individual in the video. His demeanor, language, and actions were unlike any that he had presented to those who knew him best.
If the person on this video had revealed his personality, these thoughts, and these images, this news story would be buried on the fourth page of a local newspaper. Why? Because anyone acting in the manner displayed on these videos would immediately be taken into psychiatric care. The images on this video indicate a textbook example of paranoia, delusion, and psychotic behavior.
How then could NBC propose that these videos would be helpful in pointing out “the next school shooter?” Before we saw these videos, we knew that this sort of behavior was antisocial at best and deadly at worst. Cho’s manifesto was a rambling, moronic rant. And NBC has turned it into info-tainment.
I understand that several of the Virginia Tech families canceled appearances on the Today show because of NBC’s decision to air the footage. I heartily agree with their decision, and will not change the channel to the NBC until this junk has left the news cycle, or NBC has changed their position.
The only thing worse than NBC’s decision to air this footage is CNN’s report that Virginia State Police authorities were disappointed in NBC’s decision to air the footage. The CNN report was preceded and followed by pictures and video from the very same package.
In the quest for ratings, and thus advertising dollars, many of our media outlets have sold out their journalistic ethics. What we must remember is that ratings are based on viewership. If we are watching, then we are part of the problem.
Recent Comments