Friday, July 27, 2012
Covering the Colorado Shootings
It's hard to believe that the Colorado shootings happened only one week ago. When news was breaking about the catastrophe I was in Edinburgh with some fellow Grady students. We obsessively checked our phones to catch any kind of news about the terrible event. Saturday morning literally every news stand and coffee shop was plastered with the daunting image of Holmes smiling eerily out of newspaper and magazine covers. Some of the other Grady students and I got into a deep discussion about whether news outlets ought to be using his photo and name on the front page of every paper. Some argued that news organizations were giving rewarding him with undeserved "fame." They said that perhaps news organizations should focus more on the victims rather than the killer. Giving him so much attention, they argued, was probably exactly what he wanted. However, I believe that it would be impossible to cover the story without using his name and photo so excessively. The story is that this lunatic massacred a movie theater and planned his attack meticulously. There's no way to inform the public about the even without using his photo and name on the front page. If it's fame he wanted, it's fame he got. The media aren't honoring him; they're simply informing the public.
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When we were discussing this, I remember how difficult it was for me to pick which opinion I agreed with more; as a communications student, I understand how important it is for the public to receive information. Think of what would happen if the newspapers didn't show his picture or release any information about him; there would probably be some kind of mass hysteria because of our curiosity in these matters. When senseless evil like this occurs, people want to see its face so maybe they can attach some kind of humanity to it. It is, like you said, the media's job to report on these types of things and inform the public; sadly, it isn't in their best interests to be particularly sensitive.
ReplyDeleteThat's why, in spite of being a Grady student, I could also see the validity in the other opinion; even though I knew the the newspapers had to contain information about the killer, I wish people were more interested in the victims' well-being instead of trying to psychoanalyze this..well, to put it nicely, psycho. I don't think the newspapers were trying to give James Holmes fame; but I wish they would contain more information about the civilians that were caught in this nightmare, and would give more attention to the heroes instead of the killer.
I agree that while it is necessary to provide information about the killer, newspapers should also bring light to the victims. However, 12 people died and 58 more were injured during the shooting. Covering the stories of 70 people would be a very difficult task to do; therefore, out of simplicity, it would make more sense for newspapers to focus on one individual.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Jessica, I was in Edinburgh during the shooting too. I noticed some noteworthy aspects of their coverage of the event as well. Due to the fact that I road tripped for the weekend I was unfortunately relying heavily and solely on the radio to give me information of the shooting. The coverage was brutal, and in relation to the comments about the civilians, maybe showed too much?
ReplyDeleteOn a radio show, coverage was aired of a woman who was at the event of the shooting and she was shrieking in hysterics about how her young child was brutally injured. It was beyond disturbing and alarming. I think general knowledge of an event such as this is enough for the public to understand and acknowledge the severity of it. Coverage such as the violent shrieks of a mother in distress I find to be unnecessary and too much of a play on the emotion's of the public.
From what I have heard about the event, I do not think the media are giving the shooter fame through their coverage. I do think it is necessary to share his name and what he did to make the public informed. I do not have a TV to watch here, so I am relying solely on print sources. If I could see the coverage on TV, I may change my mind about how far the media are going in their reports. I was in Dublin when this terrible tragedy happened. On Saturday morning I attended a local church there and was so touched when the Priest mentioned the tragedy in the United States and asked everyone to pray for Chicago and the communities and families that were effected by the shooting. I was so touched that people on the other side of the world had so much empathy for the people and towns affected by this tragic event.
ReplyDeleteFrom a photojournalistic approach, covering events like this is always interesting. It is often the case that the photo run is the only photo available. This "daunting image of Holmes smiling eerily" was more than likely, at the time of deadline, the only picture of him available to the news agencies.
ReplyDeleteI know on Holmes' first day of court, 23 July 2012, photographers were allowed inside the courtroom, but after that, the Judge barred all photography from inside during the trail; so once again, access to images of Holmes become incredibly limited. I do not think the media is highlighting him, but rather they are using the only resources available to them to tell the story the best they can.
I have thought many times about whether they should condemn the bad or honor the good, but at the end of the day the story is about him. It's sad that we don't know much about the victims, but we do wonder what led him to commit such a horrible act. I think it is focused on so much definitely for news value, but can also help people understand events like this and eventually move on after the hearing. Hopefully, people will also realize how precious life is and not take any moments for granted.
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