This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

A Misguided News Report - Keeping the Focus on an Accused Mass Murderer

Why Would the CBS Evening News Enshrine an Evil Man as a Focus of Its newscast?

From the moment he signed on as anchor of the legendary CBS Evening News, I have been a great admirer of the knowledgeable, substantive, charming, and ingratiating Scott Pelley, but I was deeply troubled by his broadcast of Wednesday, Jan. 9.

In a report on the recent court appearance for the accused Aurora, Colorado theater mass murderer, multiple photographs and sketches of him were featured prominently, including one shot of his maniacal face in which the camera zeroed in on a close-up that filled the screen.

Do the producers not realize that such coverage plays into the killer’s hands, affording him the notoriety he no doubt sought in destroying the lives of so many innocent people, or do they not care? Does Mr. Pelley have no thought in his head that airing such a story in the manner that CBS did is irresponsible “journalism?” Does an individual of his stature not have the ability and the responsibility to reject such an unsavory angle in covering this story? 

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

I am challenging CBS because that is the station that I watched of the day of this report, but I imagine other networks are guilty of the same type of shameless efforts to boost interest and ratings at the expense of legitimate reporting.

We can argue about whether it is wise to allow unlimited access to guns, but can we not agree that to feature and glorify an evil killer is dead wrong, emphasis on “dead?”  Should we not know as much about the victims and the first responders who dealt with horror than we do about the perpetrator?

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?