On the heels of the Omaha mall shooting, this commentary came out that suggested if the media stopped providing names of people who go on killing sprees, it might cause others from seeking celebrityhood.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/omaha-gunman-counted-media/story.aspx?guid=%7B86202F73%2DDD21%2D4E84%2D8C30%2DF7A880A2AD47%7D
Thoughts?
Patrick E
Favorite Answer
It's very interesting that you've asked this. I am from Omaha and there has been alot of talk locally about this because the gunman allegedly stated that he wanted to be famous. One local radio station (89.7 The River) has publicly announced that they would not give the name of the shooter or talk about his history at all. The only news that they have given is facts about the shooting and then information and history about the victims.
I agree completely but I want to take it one step further. I think that we need to re-define what makes a person famous and what a celebrity is. A celebrity should not be some idiot on a reality show that backstabs other people. They should not be a person that is rich and goes around acting like a moron because they can. And celebrities should not be identified as people who get away with drunk driving, drug posession, and other crimes. We should start giving more and more praise and recognition to people who accomplish REAL things. Doctors, scientists, authors, astronauts, musicians (real ones), teachers, etc, etc. I think that more and more kids wouldn't turn out like this young man did if they had role models like this to look up to.
Der Lange
I worked in journalism for many years. This issue has come up time and again, along with serious talk of suppressing new coverage of such events either entirely or to some substantial degree. Last April, I encountered a woman speaking at a popular culture association convention who has studied the effects of news coverage of school shootings.
Her opinion, and she has made a deep study of the kids involved in school violence, is that the news coverage generally does not stimulate such kids to act on their fantasies. They were already so inclined and working on it.
Interesting.
I have had many discussions with friends who are journalists, and friends who agree with the premise of this question. If a general principle was adopted by the community of journalists, much as they largely agree not to publish the names of rape victims or minors charged with crimes (not all media follow those rules), it is possible that less might be made of the names of perpetrators of cimes seeking to gain notoriety. As the fellow in the linked article pointed out, however, unless this becomes a general principle, then there is not likely to be much observation of it.
In many infamous crimes, too, it is impossible to hide the details. We need to know what happened, and if we possibly can, why it happened. It isn't gory fascination, nor granting some malefactor's dearest wish. It's important for us as the greater community to be able to come to grips with the events.
And, honestly, such evildoers do not gain "fame," but infamy. They are not praised or elevated.
-Tequila17
The "spree" killer is after the "glory", of that there is no doubt.
Responsible journalism!?!?!??! How in the world will journalist's keep their jobs?
It certainly would be a bold step to take as a journalist but it would have to be done collectively or it wouldn't make a difference.
Ethics in journalism has always been an issue which conflicts with selling news to the public.
Peace.
imahlah
I agree but that does not mean it will happen less. If a person is going to harm others for whatever sick reason they made up in their minds...then being on TV is not really an incentive. Especially after they shoot them selves. That's like closing the stable gate after the horse has already come out.
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I do agree. The VT shooter had his face plastered all over the news as well, which is just what he wanted. One radio station in the VT area refused to say the shooters name and refused to even discuss him, only the victims. He still got more airtime than the victims. I would rather hear about the victims than the crazy killer. My friend was killed at VT that day, and I was so disgusted that they published the photos he sent to NBC all over the place. It was very tacky.