Folks, there is no way TV news is not going to cover the deadliest shooting massacre in U.S. history

[DeepModem Mom]

And it should be covered. While adrenalin flows with breaking news, I doubt very much that any network newspeople are enjoying this story.

Keep in mind that many of us here are news junkies, and pay an inordinate amount of attention to the news. Most people tune in, see the Virginia Tech story briefly, and tune out. Some of us are tuned in in one way or another all day and/or night.

Like every other news story, this will run its course. Gonzales will still be a story, Bush will still be a story, Iraq will still be a story. Alas, I long for the day when these are no longer stories we have to devote the all-too-short days of our lives to.

[Ignacio Upton]

1. I'd like to offer a big STFU to people who are equating this with Anna Nicole Smith et al.

Unfortunately, an event like this IS a MAJOR story that necessitates coverage.

[realisticphish]

2. no shit

I guess some people are jaded, but christ

[merh]

3. Ditto that!

n/t

[Cabcere]

5. People are equating this to ANS?

:wow: :grr: :puke: Words fail me.

[Ignacio Upton]

10. "Why is this shooting getting coverage when this same stuff happens every day in Iraq?"

I've seen comments like that in other threads. No direct connection, but a desire to shit on this story because it isn't related to Iraq. We all agree that ANS and other tabloid fluff shouldn't get top priority, but there ARE other events in the world besides Iraq and the U.S. Attorneys Scandal. Other news was still covered during WWII and Vietnam without a problem.

[Cabcere]

23. Ah, I see.

And well said. :thumbsup: I understand that Iraq and the USAttorneys Scandal are big deals, but this is pretty fucking important too. (And yes, as a Virginian who has many friends at Tech, I am slightly biased here.) Thanks for your well-stated response - I hope people will read it and understand where some of us are coming from. :thumbsup:

[eridani]

31. Who is doing this?

Comparing this killing to what is going on daily in Iraq is relevant, and in no way implies that it shouldn't be reported.

[slackmaster]

4. Not the biggest massacre, just the biggest shooting massacre

Many other incidents including bombings and arson far surpass this one in body count.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. I did include the words "by a lone gunman." (Should have included in the subject line...

but don't think I had space.)

[slackmaster]

14. Not to diminish the accomplishments of lone bombmen or killers working in teams

:eyes:

[DeepModem Mom]

16. If you give me the words to characterize this incident as unique, if it is...

I'll use them.

[DeepModem Mom]

19. Actually, I've now edited to use your words. nt

[slackmaster]

21. I mean neither to be pedantic nor anal about it

Peace!

[DeepModem Mom]

24. I understand. I had a hard time coming up with the words originally, and you helped. nt

[Psephos]

7. Well and aptly said n/t

[ananda]

8. I hate false hyperbole!

This was NOT the deadliest massacre in US history. Period. Not even close.

It's bad enough, though.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. self-delete

[babylonsister]

9. Hi, Mom. I'm glad Leahy pushed the Gonzales testimony to Thursday.

And yes, this will run its course.
As sad as it is, it's over and has been for awhile. I think the big story is how many people will have died and been injured before it's over.
The other story might be how much time they spend on this vs. Gonzales, emails, Iraq, etc.
I guess the perception of importance, and for how long, will prevail.

[DeepModem Mom]

22. Yep -- I think what Leahy did was both appropriate and smart. nt

[flying_monkeys]

11. I think it should be covered. But couldn't they just update when they get NEWS?

The same pictures looped, the same voices talking, nothing new said.... No new information....


24-7 of HANG ON WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE KNOW is a bit stultifying.


Definitely cover it - - but maybe include a *bit* from the rest of the world, too?


(Just my whine of the night)

[DeepModem Mom]

15. They could update other news. But it's not unusual for a story like this to be covered...

for a while 24/7. Keith moved away from Virginia Tech about 2/3 of the way through "Countdown," after 40 minutes of excellent reporting about the situation.

[onenote]

17. Y'know, there are people here on DU who are saying they are just hearing about this

People want information about this. So they repeat it. Not everyone watches 24/7.

Frankly, on my way home from work, when my local (DC) radio station went from the story about the VA Tech shootings to a puff piece on a local theater awards program, I was appalled. At that particular moment, promoting a night on the town seemed like terrible judgment.

[flying_monkeys]

26. How 'bout this then?

From what I've seen, all the loops and story could be covered in oh, I'll be generous, 30 minutes.

So the news stations cover the first half hour on this story, then the next 15 minutes on new news unrelated, then 5 minutes back to touch base with the shooting and verify NO NEW NEWS YET, STORY AT THE HOUR, then 10 final minutes of more new news....


That could work, couldn't it?


(I do get your gist about how some people are still finding out - but I suspect it will still be 24-7 most of tomorrow, too...)

[Bicoastal]

13. Excellent Post!

Kicked and Recommended. You found the right things to say on a day when people are, on one side of the argument, being callous, and on the other, insulting.

Although I am dreading the conservative spin on this story, whatever form it takes in the days that follow. Lurking on the Dark Site, I was appalled how the Freepers reacted when they found out the poor kid who managed to capture some of the event on his cell phone was an ethnic Palestinian--they straight-out accused him of being a member of an American university-hating terrorist cell! Morans...

[TygrBright]

18. Yes, it merits coverage. It merits QUALITY coverage.

It does not deserve the kind of creepy, ghoulish, we're-looking-for-a-way-to-turn-this-into-a-story-about-someone-other-than-the-crazy-asshole-doing-the-shooting-is-responsible coverage that it's getting in the mainstream media.

It doesn't deserve endless dissection of ancillary trivia that distract from and trivialize the real horror "Well, our reporter walked from building A to building B and it took two and a half minutes LESS than the police statement indicated!"

It doesn't deserve endless-loop repetition of the few horrifying facts that are the totality of what is actual news about this story, interlarded with speculation, incompetent 'analysis' and uninformed, insensitive commentary focused on getting the audience not just shocked and grieving, but angry and indignant.

It merits grave, factual coverage of what's relevant, repeated at sufficient intervals to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to learn the facts, for the first day or so. THEN it merits sober, reasoned coverage of the additional analysis and information provided by competent people in a position to know additional details. THEN it merits additional, sympathetic coverage of the unfolding impact on the surviving victims, including families and fellow-students, delivered during ordinary news broadcasts with enough time to signify the priority of the story.

Anything else is a disservice to the victims, to the public, and to the profession of journalism.

I am ASHAMED of the media. I am ASHAMED that we let them get away with their creepy bloodsucking ghoulish relish in this story and their insensitive, immoral indifference to their responsibilities.

nauseatedly,
Bright

[sandnsea]

25. I agree with that

I cringed when it went from traumatic tragic shooting to "massacre of historic proportions". It takes less and less time for the sensationalism to take over the reporting. It should be on, the way JFK was on. But it should be covered with subdued dignity, not the sensationalism we're going to end up with.

[Tom Rinaldo]

28. And I agree with this. n/t

[Webster Green]

29. Exactly

Nicely stated!

[babylonsister]

30. TygrBright, you rock and are so right on!

Thank you! :yourock: :yourock:

[Rex]

20. Money is to be made and ratings need to be raised.

They enjoy the job. Some of them seem to enjoy it a little too much IMO.

[nam78_two]

27. But it is the style of coverage by people like Nancy Grace

that is so offensive.

At least to my way of thinking, if my family or I were involved in a tragedy of this sort, I would not want people like that AWFUL Nancy Grace swooping down and cheapening it and basically treating it like this huge party :shrug:. This is not respectful coverage IMHO.

Of course its not like ANS, but imo thats the only way those fox news anchors and NG can treat anything.