Slog - Comments on Letter of the Day http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22 Who's Worse? The Shooter or the Media? Shame on the fucking media! NPR too! The media's response to this shooting [at Virginia Tech] has been so sensationalistic, so sickeningly reactionary and so violence obsessed it boarders on fetishism. What kind of sick people flock to the scene of such a brutal crime, and immediately begin interviewing children (18 and 19-year-olds) who are in a state of shock, and broadcast their images across the world? Within hours, they have swarmed upon this college community with a total and complete disregard for the well being of the people. It's sick! What is... Copyright 2008 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:32:38 -0800 Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:05:04 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by ho' know give us dirty laundy

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/don+henley/dirty+laundry_20042033.html

]]> ho' know http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696336 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696336 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:48:02 -0800 Comment by Sussio 18 and 19 year olds aren't children. Quit being such a cry baby.

]]> Sussio http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696362 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696362 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:13:51 -0800 Comment by lauren This is major news, I fail to see how it's irresponsible to cover it as if it was a really tragic and emotional event... which it IS. I've been listening to NPR, and the coverage has been fine.

My journalism class looked at the front page coverage aggregation on Poynter's website, and I have only two complaints: the word "Massacre" should be reserved for Darfur or Iraq, and that picture of the bleeding/dead/injured(?) student being carried should not be on front pages.

]]> lauren http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696397 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696397 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:54:37 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle How do you know they're 18 or 19 year olds?

Some of my PIs have 14 year old daughters who are full UW students.

Well?

And, yes, it's the media's fault. That includes The Stranger, as you well know.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696439 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696439 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:52:13 -0800 Comment by JMS Want to see a really stupid take on it?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266860,00.html

]]> JMS http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696482 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696482 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:34:58 -0800 Comment by SDA in SEA JMS,

ohhhh... it was SATAN!!! Of course. How silly of me not to have realized this. Thank you Fox News for your fair and balanced reporting!

]]> SDA in SEA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696505 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696505 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:55:43 -0800 Comment by mirror i think the reporting has been fine for the most part. this guy is overreacting. sure, we're heading to the point of excess now, but on the flip side, people would be mad if the media treated this too lightly instead. so there's a fine line.


none of the students, parents, teachers, etc are forced to talk with the media. they're doing it because, for whatever reason, they want to talk. and for the most part, the exchanges between these people and the anchors and reporters have been cordial and understanding, not detached or sensational.


this crap about the media using this to promote the agenda of their sponsors is ridiculous. this is a legitimate, major story in which many people are interested. for the suits at the networks, it's a ratings game. for the reporters, it's a chance to show their skills. for the producers, it's content to fill their airtime. and if people watch it, which they are (look at nightly news' ratings last night), you can bet this formula will continue during future big events. it's overly simplistic, and sadly far too popular, to boil this all down to some political/money-grubbing conspiracy. each audience has its own role.

]]> mirror http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696518 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696518 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:14:51 -0800 Comment by DKJ Thank you for your comments--this is a sick, sick country. The douches on this blog are part of the problem.

]]> DKJ http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696555 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696555 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 18:02:33 -0800 Comment by megan w I understand that the shooting is a big news event, and certainly everyone who chooses to speak to a reporter is making their own decision, but I just got back from my school’s candlelight vigil (all Virginia colleges were having candlelight vigils tonight), and there is something deeply intrusive about people with video cameras recording your grief. My friends at Tech who went to the memorial on Tuesday said that the media was everywhere, trying to capture images of crying students. Sure, media outlets have a responsibility to report the news, but some students have been violated enough.

]]> megan w http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696592 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696592 Media Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:18:24 -0800 Comment by Ursula Who’s Worse? The Shooter or the Media?
I'm sorry, but how is the answer to this question not immediately obvious? To the best of my knowledge, the media hasn't killed or injured anyone yet. Drop the hyperbole already.

]]> Ursula http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696898 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696898 Media Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:24:05 -0800 Comment by F Time to release my inner misanthrope:


Causes of Death of Teens (Age 15-19)


VaTech shooting: 32

Drowning: 320 per year

Auto Accidents: 5522 per year

Suicide: 1513 per year

Poisoning: 486 per year (!)

Heart Disease: 405 per year

HIV: 38 per year

This is only in the news because it is reality TV. Not that this should surprise anyone who rubbernecks at traffic accidents. We're all a bunch of sickos.

]]> F http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696996 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/letter_of_the_day_22#c696996 Media Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:05:04 -0800