Posted on 04/19/2007 1:39:56 PM PDT by fight_truth_decay
NBC News's decision to telecast portions of the video material it received Wednesday from Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui, material that was disseminated by other print and electronic news divisions, provoked reaction that moved the news division to release an explanatory statement Thursday.
It did not quell negative reverberations, including the cancellation of appearances on NBC's "Today" show Thursday in protest of the decision made by NBC News. The network also imprinted the NBC News credit on everything released to other media from the package it was sent by Cho.
In one of the on-air moments of recognition that NBC News' decision was not a unanimous one internally, "Today" co-host Matt Lauer said Thursday morning that there were "some big differences of opinion right within this news division as to whether we should be airing this stuff at all."
"The Virginia Tech killer's death wish has come to pass," Accuracy in Media editor Cliff Kincaid said in a statement released Thursday. "NBC is playing into the cold dead hands of a mass murderer, exploiting his paranoid delusions for ratings and profit. This is exactly what he wanted."
However, Mr. Kincaid also said NBC News should make the entire contents available for "public inspection" on the Web.
The NBC News statement began with an acknowledgment that "the pain suffered by the Virginia Tech community, and indeed the entire country, is immeasurable.
"Upon receiving the materials from Cho Seung-Hui, NBC News took careful consideration in determining how the information should be distributed. We did not rush the material onto air, but instead consulted with local authorities, who have since publicly acknowledged our appropriate handling of the matter," the NBC statement continued. "Beginning this morning, we have limited our usage of the video across NBC News, including MSNBC, to no more than 10 percent of our airtime.
"Our Standards & Policies chief reviewed all material before it was released. One of our most experienced correspondents, [Justice Department reporter] Pete Williams, handled the reporting. We believe it provides some answers to the critical question, 'Why did this man carry out these awful murders?'" the statement continued.
"The decision to run this video was reached by virtually every news organization in the world, as evidenced by coverage on television, on Web sites and in newspapers. We have covered this story—and our unique role in it—with extreme sensitivity, underscored by our devoted efforts to remember and honor the victims and heroes of this tragic incident. We are committed to nothing less."
What do you think about NBC News?s decision? Leave your comments and join the discussion here.
The same reason “The View” continues to have Tokyo Rosie on their show.
Advertising revenue from ratings.
I think a few of the parents, as well as some of the parents of the victims at Columbine.
You said — “Please don’t give that little creep any more publicity.”
That may have been your comments to NBC — but — right here on Free Republic, there are countless FReepers who are *demanding* the full release of all information, writings and pictures related to this guy, Cho, because they think that the authorities are trying to “cover up” information related to him and give us a false impression of what happened.
Therefore, these FReepers demand the *full release* of all information, pictures, writings, documents, etc...
That seems to go against what you are saying...
Regards,
Star Traveler
I don't believe that has been determined.
Look at this , the Google put the stories about Cho under it’s entertainment grouping, doesn’t that tell you how the media think about this story?
http://news.google.com/news?ned=us
Fire NBC. Pull all sponsors.
Tomorrow, Friday,
is the anniversary
of Columbine, and
it's Hitler's birthday.
I imagine lots of nuts
will fall from the trees . . .
NAILED IT!
I saw the young man’s psychotic rants one time, and that was enough. I haven’t watched TV news since.
Dayum. Either the makeup artist is the best ever, or else Superman there just looks a LOT like Scott Peterson.
So they tossed a coin, and the coin said "go for the ratings"?
You said — “You can’t say a curse word, and HEAVEN forbid a boob is exposed because little johnny may be irrevocably harmed. But this shit, which will directly lead to the death of other people, is A-OK.”
Well, there are many FReepers here on these types of discussions who are demanding the full release of all these materials, so they can see exactlly what he said and did — no editing wanted!
They are saying that it’s because we cannot trust the authorities to give us a true picture of who he was and where he came from (because it’s claimed the authorities will cover it up and give it a “whitewash”). Thus, what you are saying goes totally against a large number of your fellow FReepers.
And by the way, NBC *did* knock out those words on his “manifesto” and bleeped out the words on his video. So, they are consistently doing the same thing there....
Regards,
Star Traveler
..idiocy..!
I said this today for the media. This was a business decision that I understand. NBC became a tool in this crime, like the guns. It was against their will but it happened nonetheless.
All I know is it's all God's plan...
So they tossed a coin, and the coin said "ignore all social responsibility not to incite copycat mass murderers, ignore all semblance of decency and go for the ratings"?
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