Should the media have broadcast the video and violent images of Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-Hui's?

They have done it right (for once). They aired breaking news of the videos and are now backing off from showing them so as not to sesationalize. I think that is a good balance. There wasn't any glory in his manifesto and I think most everyone sees this. Copycats don't need an excuse. After all, Cho copied the Columbine shooters.

Yes, I think the media should have shown the video of Cho Seung Hui. I don't think showing Cho Seung-Hui's video by the media is glorifying his actions. When I saw on television that 33 people were killed in a mass shooting at Virginia Tech University, the first thing that came to my mind was, how could someone do something so horrible. I think that question was answered when NBC and other media stations showed the video of Cho. The airing of the video really showed how disturbed Cho was. He was a delusional man, who need help. I also don't agree with the statement that the video will prompt copycat killers because to my recollection, there was no video of the Columbine shooters. Yet there were other school shootings after the the Columbine shootings. The bottom line is that there are disturbed people out there and if they are going to commit mass murders, seeing the video of Cho is not going to change anything, other than(and this is what really concerns me) thinking of a way to out do what Cho has done.

NO! It's important to transmit the news but then back off. Media thrives on misery and turmoil and they make it their mission to milk stories to No end. Just look at the Jessica Simpson Story which does not seem to want to go away, and why, because media made an elaborate production out of the whole thing and people were drawn to it. News is Big business and with it carries big dollars for the networks. Not to state this is anywhere near the significance of what occurred at Virginia Tech, but the Media will take this story to create sub stories, TV specials and next thing you know Hollywood will get involved. It's at a point where People are already desensitized to the horrors people are capable of. If media ignored the details of the maniacs and focused rather on only the victims and events, maybe attention seekers wanting their minute of fame or those wanting to transmit their messages to the world would go away or at least diminish. Until the media stops mentioning and acting as the messengers for the madmen of the world, these disturbed lunatics and homicidal maniacs will continue to rely on the media to ensure their notoriety. Shame on the media for being so tasteless and disrespectful...

It glorifies his actions and could prompt copycat killers... absolutely. As far as the media's mandate to broadcast the news and give the audiences what they want... what a bunch of bull_****! They censor everything else! Especially the good news. Good news apparently doesn't sell advertising spots! For years people have wanted the gore and finally some decent young adults say "**** off" to the media and the media all of a sudden raises an eyebrow. Why? because those snivelling whining bastards see the all mighty dollar sailing down the river.

I say good for those who are standing up to the media. They have a right to be heard and they have the right to have their wishes respected.

And if anyone questions my opinion... I have been in the media industry for more than 22 years.

My last word... I am educated and I apologized for my preceding slight profanity,

Your comments...

NO, the media should not be showing anything that this terrible person had to say, Cho took the lives of 32 people his face should not even be on the front covers on our newspapers. The media glorifies this monster. Soon someone else who would like to have his face plastered on the media will do the same thing just to be recognized. It is time that the media started to think about the victims and the impact this has on the families of those who has been killed, not only at Virgina Tech but others as well.

Why do we need to try to find out why someone would do such a horrible thing, they are not in the right frame of mind and there is no one that you can blame but the shooter himself.

This is a hot topic and everyone will have an opionin. There is no excuse for what he has done. Millions have been teased and hurt badly but they chose to move on. I understand his pain but I will never understand his decision but I am not the one who will judge him in the final act.

When the media chose to show the video, they too had a hard decision on their hands. My gut reaction is no they should not of showed it as it give him the limelight that he wanted. This is what other confused individuals will see, they will not see it through a rational mind and they will make their decision for what they might do next, but if they do not find this excuse they will find another unfortuntely.

I don't usually keep up with this kind of news. This time I did. I was curious to how the world would react. There is far to much finger pointing and blame going around. But then when one loses people they care about one of the first react is anger. Lets hope the next reaction is steps to prevent this type of thing from happening. I am not sure what those steps should be, only a professional can handle such decisions.

I didn't need to see the video and so therefore I did not see it. Others chose to watch it and got upset. It all comes down to free will doesn't it? If millions of people did not watch the video when it appeared.............They would not have a need to show it again...........or any others like it.

Although I agree that TV Networks have a "mandate" to bring the news , but it could be done without publicizing details that give the publicity power to the monsters that commit such stupidities.A news report that would show a photograph of all the victims (families and friends) ; the problem it brings to the community, WITHOUT showing the killer's face, name or publicity stunts would still show the world the atrocities the close ones now have to live with, (but without giving a hint that someone else who would do the same stupid actions will get their face or name on TV...(THe idea of sending a message to the networks -why not a sketch of action while you're at it?!?Am I looking for publicity ? you bet!) -

What is the use anyway of seeing the killer's face or to know it's name anyhow ? We will never see him again or talk to him... And without knowing the killer's name we could always use some 4 letter word to call him with.

Doing it that way, the News story would still be there but the attraction of being famous because committing such a stupid action would be gone. Who would remember John Lennon's killer name if it had not broadcasted?

For the most part I think you can agree that the media operates within a series of stop gap censorship disincentives in its everyday operations.

Individual news directors are shackled when it comes to how much truth can be presented. Good or bad?

If it's safer go for the lie or the cover up?

The questions abound.

What an imperfect world!

There is pain and suffering in the mix and you have a dirty job to do. We don't like you to enjoy it, or exploit the situation.

If it's raining ...you carry and umbrella, or if your face has a blemish you medicate and then apply the appropriate disappearing cream.

Moderation has always been the panacea of the people for the peoples ruling class. I don't see that rule being amended any time soon.

Just give us a little ... but don't get greedy or yer face'll break out!

Definitely not. We are over run with these images and they are de-sensitizing all of us. The same with violent movies - one CNN broadcaster made this tragedy sound like a movie! We'll be right back with more of Massacre at Virginia Tech" Like a late night movie announcer telling us to stay tuned - less we miss more gore and blood. Only this was real blood - of children and people that were loved; not some stupid characters in a pretend world. This world is real enough without seeing some things first hand. It does glorify the violence and the one responsible - didn't he get enough attention the day he took the lives of those people. He knew what the media would do with those videos - why do you think he did it! You are all feeding into his plan - and voluntarily becoming a part of it! It makes me sick to see it.

Well It is such a moral question that I don't think an answer can be easily found because the media has no problem broadcasting someone like Osama Bin Ladin repeatedly after some of his terrorist plots especially after the bombing of the world trade centres. Bin Ladin however, can boast all he'd like about the amount of Americans he has killed and still get away with it. So why does the media continue show this even after his plots, killings, and boasting? I think that there should be a decision made to either show all of it, or not show it at all rather than decide what to show.

I just look at the media as being some what of a hypocrite because soon after one of the popular entertainment news shows on prime time aired the story of whether to show graphic content a movie trailer for the Bourne Ultimatum was previewed and it was nothing but violence and killing, fictional but still. And the host was "excited" for the movie release and stated that she could not wait to see it because the trailer looks so good.

I dunno ...we live in a messed up culture I guess.

I don't think it was necessary to broadcast the video and violent images. It could have been discussed but did not need to be shown. The media tends to overplay these types of news stories. We don't need to hear bad news 24-7 - it's very unhealthy for everyone. I think that by repeating the same news stories like this over and over we become more and more desensitized and gloss over the reality of it all. I think that the people directly affected by this tragedy probably don't want to see the horror of it all over and over again. I also think that by replaying the scenes could potentially induce someone in a like state of mind as Cho Seung-Hui, knowing that people are looking for a "copycat" - will give us a copycat. Stop already.