Close Menu Navigation
Open Categories Menu Is this irresponsible?
- 18 April, 2007 -
- Journalism, Online Media -
- Tags : Journalism, Newspapers, Online Media
- 1 Comment
My wife thinks MSNBC use of the Virginia Tech shooter’s photo is irresponsible. I’m not completely in that boat, but I could be persuaded to climb on board. The irresponsible argument chases down the possibility of copycats and the feelings of the families and those close to the victims. On the other hand, you could argue the photo is newsworthy and shows the attitude of the shooter whom everyone is trying to figure out.
I don’t necessarily think it’s irresponsible to air the photos at all. I do think it’s irresponsible to put this particular photo on the home page. It’s shocking, jolting even, and I can’t imagine how people more closely related to the crisis must feel looking at that on the home page of every major news organization.