Mr. Capus,
I am both disgusted and disappointed today with NBC's decision to air videos and photographs sent to NBC by Cho Seung-Hui. The intent of sending those materials was precisely the outcome; Cho Seung-Hui wished to be the center of the storm of infamy that followed his heinous acts. Cliff Vanzant has said on MSNBC, with respect to the victims and because the intent of the perpetrator was to gain attention for his crimes, he would not have aired the videos.
I was made aware by the story that Cho considered the tragedy at Columbine High School perpetrated by Dillon Klebold and Eric Harris to be inspiration for his attack, which I think is useful information for the public to have. Showing the videos made by Klebold and Harris as contrast to the Cho videos is truly a disgusting act. If we now know that Cho drew some inspiration from the Columbine killings and made videos that were eerily similar to those made by Klebold and Harris what sense does it make to once again air the original videos? How many others who will become mentally unstable and fall through the cracks of our mental health system will draw inspiration from seeing not one of these videos but both the Columbine and Virginia Tech videos?
There are ways in which NBC could have retain the information that was received by the news organization and benefit from the jump that was received on the competition thereby getting better ratings while not showing the tapes. It is possible in my opinion to maintain ratings and a moral high ground on the competition. I would suggest that the next time NBC news receives such inflammatory materials they perhaps put such information on their websites so that it is not broadcast as widely as it is being now. I realize that the same number of people who have viewed the videos on television may eventually see it on the internet, but there is a difference in individuals making an active choice to to view them as opposed to the passive choice on their television to either change the channel or sit through the report. The distinction may not be separated by a wide margin but I believe this would allow NBC News to its position on the moral high ground you've claimed last week with the firing of Don Imus.
I received the following in response to my email:
NBC News is in receipt of your e-mail. Please read the following statement from Steve Capus, NBC News President.
I want to take a moment to explain our decision. I assure you it was not taken lightly. It was only done after careful consideration and with great sensitivity to the families and friends of the victims and the entire community of Virginia Tech.
Beginning this morning, we have limited our usage of the video across NBC News to no more than 10 percent of our airtime.
It is important to note, NBC News has broadcast only a small fraction of the material we've received. In total, there are more than 45 photos, more than 23 minutes of video tape and 23 some pages of written materials. We selectively chose certain limited passages and material to release.
Prior to the release, we worked very closely with law enforcement authorities. They asked us to remain silent about the material until they had a chance to review the content. We naturally abided by that request. We handed over to the FBI all of the original documents in a quick manner with the expressed desire to do anything to help investigators. Indeed, we appreciated the acknowledgment by the Virginia State Police during their press briefing yesterday, of our handling of this incident.
Some 7 and 1/2 hours passed before we aired the first video from the material, and again it was done in an extremely limited manner. Our Standards and Policies chief reviewed all material before it was released. One of our most experienced correspondents, 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 same decision to run this video was reached by virtually every news organization in the world, as evidenced by their coverage on television, on websites and in newspapers.
The pain suffered by the Virginia Tech community and indeed the country is real and will last forever. I believe our coverage to date has been handled with great sensitivity. We are committed to nothing less.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope you appreciate our difficult position - and that this e-mail offers some understanding.
Steve Capus
NBC News President
10 percent of their air time eh? Lets see. 10 percent of MSNBC = 2 hours 24 minutes. 10 percent of CNBC - 2 hours 24 minutes. 10% of the today show = 18 minutes of the today show. 3 minutes of the Nightly News. 3 minutes of Early Today.
That's 5 Hours and 12 Minutes of programming in a 24 hour period. One point here, I find it hard to believe that the Today Show will only spend 18 minutes on the subject. Additionally, 3 minutes on the Nightly news may be a bit understated. We all know that they've got all of 10% one the cable 24 hour news outlets so what color smoke are they trying to blow up my ass anyway? I'm not buying it.
Posted by j.tonic at April 19, 2007 11:36 AM
Jim, I sent a similar letter to CNN and MSNBC. Your letter is a little more articulate than mine, but the message is the same. What they are doing IS NOT reporting - they are playing right into what a desperate and unhinged guy wanted and exploiting this senseless tragedy for ratings.
But what I really want to know is who watches this crap? It serves absolutely no purpose. Except to further the idea that violence + fame are the two greatest forces in media today. (Future psycho killers everywhere take note.)
You know I love you honey, but you spelled Columbine incorrectly. ;-)
Thanks to the Professor I have corrected my misspelling of Columbine. I have also made spelling corrections to the letter I received from NBC news.
Consider all the airtime and column space given to the villain of the Virginia tragedy, to his 23-page statements and his 43 sickening photographs. Now compare it with the references one needs to search for two heroes who gave their own lives to save others'.
Do NBC and others find no significance and educational value to highlight the sacrifice made by these two gentlemen?
I hope that media will suspend repeatedly playing the killer's tapes and videos and dedicate some space to honor examples of bravery like Liviu Librescu, the 76-year-old maths professor who held shut the door of his classroom while his pupils scrambled to safety, and was then shot dead .
Another fallen hero is Virginia Tech student Waleed Mohammed Shaalan, who was hit by three bullets, including one in the head, in an attempt to save a fellow student.
Shaalan, 32, had been at Virginia Tech since August studying for a Ph.D. in civil engineering. He was ambitious, saying he wanted to follow in the footsteps of Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian who won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1999, said his father, Mohammed Shaalan, 65.
The day before Monday's massacre, Shaalan called home and said he intended to visit Egypt next month and then return to Virginia with his wife and 15-month-old son who had been living in Egypt, his parents said Thursday. The family got another call two days later. The Egyptian Embassy in Washington told them Shaalan had been one of the 32 victims.
See his 2004 wedding photo at
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/24hour/world/story/3603061p-12883822c.html