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Gunman’s Package
By Amy Wood
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
The gunman at Virginia Tech sent a package to NBC News. In it, dozens of video clips and pictures attached to a long letter, ranting against the world.
He appears to be dressed in the clothing so many students described on that deadly day. He’s holding up two guns, that may be the murder weapons. NBC reports that the time the package was sent falls between the time of the shooting at the dorm and the mass killing at Norris Hall, explaining further what he was doing between the crimes.
You have to wonder if everytime a victim of this crime sees the image of the killer and his guns, if they feel victimized all over again. Or will we all get tired of seeing him plastered on tv like some hero for the sick and twisted.
That’s why we are having a debate in our newsroom about how much of the images we should show you in the coming days. How should the videos and pictures be handled? Should we limit the gunman’s television exposure, as time goes on?
We’re interested in your perspective and your reaction to these images. You can comment below. I’ll see you on Your CW News at Ten.
Amy Wood
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COMMENTS
I understand that it’s news and reporting it is what you do, but he played this like a fiddle. If I were calling it, I would say report the story with very limited use of the actual tape. The less he has his picture on the news, the less the next person will think of doing the same thing, or, God forbid, something bigger. I also think it would be a good idea to highlight his flaws and mistakes because making him look weak and foolish will generate alot less copy-cats than making him look like a master-mind.
The gunman did this action for a reaction. It is the job of the media to report the news and keep us informed but the sooner we take his face off the air the sooner, Virgina Tech and America will begin to heal. Let’s not give him what he wants because you never know who is watching and thinking that what he did was cool. Publicity promotes, so let us stop the publicity and promote awareness and safety for all.