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NBC Investigates Misleading Editing of George Zimmerman 911 Call
Opposingviews ^ | 31 March, 2012 | Eugene Volokh

Posted on 04/02/2012 7:43:44 AM PDT by marktwain

Erik Wemple (The Washington Post) reports:

NBC told this blog today that it would investigate its handling of a piece on the “Today” show that ham-handedly abridged the conversation between George Zimmerman and a dispatcher in the moments before the death of Trayvon Martin. A statement from NBC:

“We have launched an internal investigation into the editorial process surrounding this particular story.”

Here’s what appears to be the Today show’s version of what Zimmerman said:

Zimmerman: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.

Here’s what appears to be the actual 911 transcript:

Zimmerman: This guy looks like he’s up to no good. Or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.

Dispatcher: OK, and this guy — is he black, white or Hispanic?

Zimmerman: He looks black.

Unless there’s something I’m missing here, the editing seems extremely improper (“high editorial malpractice,” in The Washington Post blogger’s words). I say this not to opine on the merits of any possible criminal case against Zimmerman; this particular point isn’t about him, but about NBC.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; lmm; martin; trayvonmartin; zimmermanslander
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To: Boonie

My bad. Message to self: engage brain before posting.


21 posted on 04/02/2012 8:17:25 AM PDT by F.J. Mitchell (" O", bred to be red.)
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To: marktwain

“Fake but accurate.”


22 posted on 04/02/2012 8:19:40 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: marktwain
"It appears that George Zimmerman has a case for slander. "

Exactly my first thought. No way is he a "public figure."

23 posted on 04/02/2012 8:20:28 AM PDT by cookcounty (Newt 2012: ---> Because he got it DONE.)
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To: cookcounty

Even if he was a public figure, editing like that is malicious and he would still have grounds for a libel suit.


24 posted on 04/02/2012 8:29:08 AM PDT by heartwood
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To: F.J. Mitchell
"The dispatcher started it all by asking an improper question. The race ,ethnicity or hue of the suspect should have been of no interest to him/her."

Ummm... huh? Are the police just supposed to stop everyone they see?

Maybe it helps to narrow the suspects down a bit.

"profiling" is goooood, not evil. That way they do not have to stop 80 year old gramma's on the street 'just to be fair' to every ethnic group.

25 posted on 04/02/2012 8:29:56 AM PDT by Mr. K (If Romney wins the primary, I am writing-in PALIN)
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To: marktwain

The NBC investigative team is probably headed up by their cable news show host, Al Sharpton.


26 posted on 04/02/2012 8:31:26 AM PDT by fuzzthatwuz
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To: marktwain

I’m also reading and listening to these “voice experts” who have concluded the screams for help are not Zimmerman.

They are using a calm voice phone message left by Zimmerman, against the screams for help over a distant 911 phone call tape.

They say the voices match 48% but it should match 90% They also say the voice is that of a “young person”.

It’s absolute BS, but if Martin was screaming for help, why did Z have injuries and M none?

Then there was a witness who SAW and heard Z as he screamed for help.

This all is very tragic.


27 posted on 04/02/2012 8:33:10 AM PDT by Williams (Honey Badger Don't Care)
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To: marktwain

I HOPE ZIMMERMAN HIRES A LAWYER RIGHT NOW!!!
AND SUES THEM OUT OF EXISTANCE!!!

The rest of the media might start reporting it fairly.

GIVE A SHOT ACROSS THE BOW GEORGE


28 posted on 04/02/2012 8:33:41 AM PDT by Mr. K (If Romney wins the primary, I am writing-in PALIN)
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To: F.J. Mitchell

Shirley you jest !


29 posted on 04/02/2012 8:34:33 AM PDT by tomkat ( FU.baraq !)
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To: marktwain

They simply don’t care. In fact, NBC is probably PROUD of their work!


30 posted on 04/02/2012 8:39:46 AM PDT by Lazamataz (Shut up and drill.)
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To: ptsal
...notice how many folks at NBC have been suspended and/or fired ????

LOL - the folks at NBC know which side is OK to lie about - and which side is NOT OK to lie about.

If some NBC phony had lied about the black kid, they'd be fired, desks cleaned out, and escorted to some dump by now... But lie about Zimmerman? Well, it's all it good fun...

31 posted on 04/02/2012 8:41:25 AM PDT by GOPJ (Democrat-Media Complex - buried stories and distorted facts... freeper 'andrew' Breitbart)
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To: marktwain
Yelp...George should not have to worry about moving out of his current home. Nice beach front abode with hired security should be in his future.

Add all the other media that echoed the material and he won't have to work another day in his life.

Go George. File the lawsuit now as a shot across the bow.

32 posted on 04/02/2012 8:51:15 AM PDT by hoosiermama (Stand with God anhttp://sanfordfl.gov/inved Sarah, the Gipper and Newt will be standing next to you.)
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To: marktwain
Eh.... this is obviously one of those MSM-patented "fake, but accurate" stories!

Why can't all you racist, bigoted, gun-toting, bible-thumping conservatives understand the importance of this situation? Are you all so close-minded that you didn't HEAR the obvious RACISM in Zimmerman's voice? I mean, Marlee Matlin could hear his disdain for Martin's race!

Do I NEED a sarcasm tag?
33 posted on 04/02/2012 8:57:55 AM PDT by ExTxMarine (PRAYER: It's the only HOPE for real CHANGE in America!)
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To: marktwain

and in other news the nazi’s will be investigating amongst allegations of anti-semites in their group...


34 posted on 04/02/2012 8:59:45 AM PDT by God luvs America (63.5million pay no federal income tax then vote demoKrat)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda

At least when W couldn’t find WMDs under a bench in the waiting room it WAS humorous, and meant that way.


35 posted on 04/02/2012 9:14:44 AM PDT by gnickgnack2 (QUESTION obama's AUTHORITY)
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To: xrmusn

I really don’t have a clue to what you are talking about....................................


36 posted on 04/02/2012 9:17:18 AM PDT by Boonie
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To: ExTxMarine

And remember the “f***ing coons” comment they went ape over? I listened to that 10 times. Sounded like “goons” to me.


37 posted on 04/02/2012 9:28:57 AM PDT by Raebie (WS)
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To: marktwain
Hey, didn't we all learn anything from Dan Rather?

Fake but accurate!!!

38 posted on 04/02/2012 9:53:13 AM PDT by Sicon ("All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." - G. Orwell)
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To: Boonie

I really don’t have a clue to what you are talking about
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Actually, I am agreeing with you.
Yes, it was a legitimate question so the Police will know who and what they are ‘looking for’.

And even if he ‘offered’ it, it is reasonable as reportedly there had been several recent break ins with Black suspects, so he was allowing ‘them’ to make their own decisions as to handling it.


39 posted on 04/02/2012 12:10:23 PM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98) Let's start from scratch by voting ALL incumbents out.)
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To: gnickgnack2

At least when W couldn’t find WMDs under a bench in the waiting room it WAS humorous, and meant that way.


The other humorous part of the WMD was “You had to believe “W” believed they were there otherwise we would have ‘found’ something”.


40 posted on 04/02/2012 12:14:14 PM PDT by xrmusn ((6/98) Let's start from scratch by voting ALL incumbents out.)
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