I am curious how all of you feel about this and this:
After turning over the original documents to federal authorities, NBC News President Steve Capus said last night, he faced a “tough call” in deciding how much to air, if any, of the Virginia Tech gunman’s expletive-filled video and 1,800-word letter, along with photos of Cho and his guns and bullets.
“We tried to be sensitive to the families involved and to the investigation,” Capus said in an interview. While it is “possible” that some relatives of the 32 students shot to death Monday may say that the network is giving the killer the platform he wanted, “they also may say, ‘We want to know why. We need to know what was in his head, what drove him to do this.’ This is a portrait of a killer.”
My thoughts are this:
In my opinion, NBC went for the ratings grab here. Had they really been concerned for the questions that the families may have, NBC would have made 32 copies and given them to the victims families. I can honestly say that I don’t think Brian Williams answered any questions for them, but instead, left them with more questions than answers.
 Mark Finkelstein thinks that NBC handled it appropriately: NBC Airs Laundry Over Airing Cho Materials: Angry Parents, Execs
Warner Todd Huston has an interesting take: NYT: VT Shootings ‘Tough’ on NBC? Media Self Absorption Reigns
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I think the toughest decision NBC made was counting the seconds to airing what they had. This is the kind of scoop most producers and editors would give their spleens for without being given pain killers first.
See, that’s what I’m thinking, and I also believe, any network that had gotten it would have made the exact same decision.
The parents have canceled their interview.
Personally I’m tired of giving this creep any more coverage. I’m okay with a daily update on any new info but really, I’ve turned off the tv. He was a criminal in the worse sense and unworthy of any more attention. Let the experts deal with the issues. The families are the ones now whose needs need to be respected and that is to not have constant coverage of this guy.
I understand the need to cover a lead story but we are seeing his evilness televised (yes even on Fox) 24/7. Enough already.
You know- that’s one issue I’d like to see discussed.
Was this man mentally ill, or was he truly evil (given that “evil” isn’t a mental illness)?
5. Ted, to my way of thinking, if you are mentally ill, you can’t be evil. Being evil is knowing what good and right are and choosing to do evil instead, like the Kennedys.
#4 Agree 100%. I was just thinking this morning that showing his photos with the weapons, the video clips, etc. all it does is glorify this killer and give him exactly what he wanted when he sent the tapes to NBC.
Nuts and wackos all over are seeing this, seeing how they too can get their instant notoriety. It just encourages copycats, imo.
If they have to show any of them at all, they should show restraint. But as we know the MSM is part of the problem.
5- as soon as transcript is available from O’Reilly, I will do a topic on what his guest discussed. Guest said you can be both and has much documentation to support his arguement…
6- “like the Kennedys”.
8- Looking forward to it.
There are already a few incidents Robert. After I post this I will go get the links.
Glorifying this man on the news is exactly what I disapprove of. He is evil and the one thing I think this shows us is that there are evil in the world and we should not be looking the other way in the name of political correctness. I’m not speaking of a society that cries wolf but this guy had red flags all over the place. THAT is what should have been noticed.
Ted, I happen to think this guy was evil pure and simple. His mental state had been looked at but he was obviously astute enough to fool the decision makers when it came time to do something, or not.
Here’s one that happened in Maryland
Did anyone catch the O’Reilly last night!? I hate how you can’t just pull up show transcripts at Fox! I find all the segments but the one I want!:mad:
8- I think that is true. I think, too, that sometimes pure evil is a precursor to insanity.
I doubt that they debated whether or not to air the stuff – I think that was a given. They might have had a teensy weensy debate on how soon to air it.
I saw O’Reilly last night Peejz but don’t remember all of the segment. Sorry. I think they post the transcripts sometime in the afternoon.
Susanna, Agree on that ‘debate’:wink:
Bon Bon, wweren’t there 8-10 incidents(yesterday) around the country of threats at colleges?
I was out of town yesterday and didn’t get all the news. One reason I don’t remember O’Reilly was because I was watching the late show. So far today there are only a couple I have crossed in print. The rest are from what I hear on tv. I’m looking though. In the meantime here’s one I got.
The gentleman was Dr. Michael Welner, MD. He is a consultant for ABC News, but has been very vocal this week:
ABC News Consultant Slams Media For Airing Video of VA Tech Killer
NewsBusters - 5 hours ago
Michael Welner, an ABC News consultant and a forensic psychiatrist, appeared on Thursday’s “Good Morning America” to slam the media for gratuitously airing …
What Good Could Come From Airing the VT Murderer’s Video? Editor & Publisher
all 4 news articles »
Orangeburg Times Democrat
Virginia Tech Massacre: Cho’s Manifesto Attempt at Mortality
WTEN, NY - 9 hours ago
… should not have been released because they do not offer the public any greater understanding of the gruesome crime, according to Michael Welner, …
Killer’s Bully Pulpit – The Backlash 6abc.com
Cho’s video testament causes uproar WBKO
NBC defends airing killer’s tape Variety
WTENÂ - ABC7Chicago.com
all 3,018 news articles »
CBS News
A “Social Catastrophe?”
CBS News, NY - 10 hours ago
–Forensic Psychologist Michael Welner, on “Good Morning America” today. Added Welner: “This is not him. These videos do not help us understand him. …
The Mind of a Killer — Caught on Tape
ABC News - 6 hours ago
Dr. Michael Welner, a forensic psychologist based in New York, said the dramatic attitude Cho adopts in his tape and photographs was likely a façade. …
CBS News
How CBS, And Its Competitors, Are Handling The Cho Materials
CBS News, NY - 7 hours ago
On “Good Morning America” today, forensic psychologist Michael Welner argued that the videos should be pulled immediately, something that would be virtually …
‘Social Catastrophe: Stop Showing This Video Now’
WSBtv.com, GA - 10 hours ago
That’s the plea from forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner about the disturbing videotapes made by Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui. …
Virginia Tech put things in perspective
Daily Mail – Charleston, WV - 13 hours ago
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner of ABC News said it is likely their son had paranoid schizophrenia. Maybe it should have been caught sooner. …
Cho Likely Schizophrenic, Evidence Suggests
ABC News - Apr 18, 2007
April 17, 2007 ” Renowned forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner has examined some of the most notorious mass shooters of recent years. …
Virginia Shooter Allegedly Suffered from Paranoid Schizophrenia
Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria - Apr 18, 2007
The renowned forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner believes the evidence strongly supports that the Virginia shooter Cho had paranoid schizophrenia. …
PSYCHO’S WISH TO LIVE IN INFAMY
New York Post, NY - 17 hours ago
Forensic psychiatrist Michael Welner, an associate professor of psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine, said Cho fit the profile of a paranoid …