Virginia Tech Shooting

[Adam Gamradt]

Shouldn't a package, received coincidentally from the same location as the crime, potentially be evidence that should be handled as such?

Instead, it was opened and the contents copied before being turned over to the proper authorities.

I'm not a big fan of anyone in government determining who should and should not have access to information, however, they have shown a little more sensitivity (for example: previewing the material with the families prior to a release to the media/public) in the past.

I believe that would have been a better way of handling this.

Are you saying that every package sent from Blacksburg that day be sent to the police?

From what I understand, NBC called police immediately, and did not publish the fact that the package was delivered for several hours, upon the authorities request.

[Adam Gamradt]

I'm not sure it's possible to over emphasis the news value of 32 people being murdered. The photos and video are newsworthy in that they give us a glimpse of this kids perspective, however disturbing.

Yes, publishing the pictures does give this guy a voice, but for every kid who thinks this guy is cool, there is probably 1000 others who think, guns are pretty stupid, and this guy is simply a coward.

Even if 99% of the public are totally outraged by this act, it only takes one nut to do something like this! For that one guy, news media sources have made this guy a poster boy of attention.

I think the U of M heard from that one percent with the bomb threat.

I would not stick my head in the sand and hope for the best. The news media didn't do this, Mr. Hui did.

To make sure I understand you, the media is sensationlizing the murder of 32 people?

Sensationalize: To cast and present in a manner intended to arouse strong interest, especially through inclusion of exaggerated or lurid details

I guess if you consider his image with a gun in his hand lurid. Or is it his pathetic attempt to make himself known, if even in infamy?

His video and images are disturbing, but so were the images of the Twin Towers collapsing. I recall video of one student jumping out the window of Columbine High School that was also hard to watch. I am glad that I had the stomach to watch it, because I know more.

I guess I'm trying to understand what the media's role in relation to this tragedy should be. I don't think there are too many people who think this kid is a hero as a result of his face being on the news. At least anyone who is not already outside reality. Therefore, I think getting the facts out in context takes precedence over any potential harm. The damage was done by Mr. Hui, and the fifty bullets he fired in to his peers.

So were the people below influenced by NBC? Even if they were, does getting the truth out not outwieght the potential harm? Do we really want to allow crazy people to define us?

http://www.odu.edu/webroot/orgs/IA/univ ... 07054159PM

http://www.wdsu.com/news/12279015/detail.html

http://www.walledlake.k12.mi.us/wlwhs/

http://www.wctrib.com/ap/index.cfm?page ... eck_return

http://kutv.com/local/local_story_108155139.html

http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates/2007/0 ... ed_do.html

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=68319

http://cbs5.com/topstories/local_story_108200741.html

[Gooseguy10]

The media is sensationlizing these murders by showing the video/pictures of the murderer. The story is that 32 innocent people were killed. NOT pictures of this idiot.

You asked how the media is responsible for this? They are not. But will they be partially to blame for the next nut. In my opinion, yes.

As far as comparing it to 9/11. Grabbing a gun and shooting people is a little easier than taking flying lessons, hi-jacking a plane with 19 people, flying it a couple hundred miles and crashing into a tour.

As far as comparing it to Columbine's new coverage. The fact that most people can tell you the names of the killers (Harris and Klebold) at Columbine nine years after it happened but yet can't list two victims, tells me that the media is focusing on the wrong people here. The kid hanging out the window was victim, the pictures/video of this incident were of the killer.....bragging about his exploits. There is a big difference.

There was one big commonality in both Va Tech and Columbine....in both cases the goals of the killers were to be noticed by millions of people and sensationalized.....in both cases they accomplished their goal b.c of the media.

NBC's tabloid journalism sold out America for ratings and money!!! In the end it perpetuates the problem and helps lead to more people dying.

[Brent Burns]

Just read that there will be a statewide (Virginia) mourning for the 32 fallen tomorrow (Friday, April 20) at 12 noon EDT. I plan to remember to stop what I'm doing at 11 a.m. EDT tomorrow to join everyone doing this at 12 noon- moment of silence.

Saw this from the Virginia Tech website:

[Adam Gamradt]

Thanks for your feedback Goose. To contrast, today there is almost nothing but stories about the victims today. At least cnn.com is dominated by pictures and stories of them.

I think the point I was trying to make, is that suppressing any information about this, or any other tragedy, limits our opportunity to learn about the people who choose to step so far outside the limit of reasonable behavior.

[Timbalaned]

possible to get that logo put on the field at the championship game this year?

[Gregg Pathiakis]

I know I could do a little research to find this out... but how many actually were killed? I've seen both 32 and 33 in reliable news media. Maybe when they refer to 33, they are referring to the gunman himself. But another wierd aspect is that VT's website only lists 30 on its main page.

[Brent Burns]

I know I could do a little research to find this out... but how many actually were killed? I've seen both 32 and 33 in reliable news media. Maybe when they refer to 33, they are referring to the gunman himself. But another wierd aspect is that VT's website only lists 30 on its main page.

http://www.vt.edu

On the right side of the Virginia Tech In Memoriam page, it says 32 victims. Two were killed at West Ambler Johnson and the other 30 were killed at Norris Hall. One administrator at VT at the press conference said the future of Norris Hall is uncertain.

[Zeuslax]

Thanks for your feedback Goose. To contrast, today there is almost nothing but stories about the victims today. At least cnn.com is dominated by pictures and stories of them.

That's because people are feed up and started calling the different media outlets. They felt the pressure and have started to change their focus.

[cjwilhelmi]

possible to get that logo put on the field at the championship game this year?

For once I agree with Tim... That would be a really classy move if we could get it put on there.

[beckner11]

Missouri State had an isolated incident yesterday with a student sending threating letters to our foreign language professors in regards to the students in that department. A few of the buildings were shut down for a short time and the kid was found arguing with another student inside one of the buildings.

We're probably going to see some small effects of the VT shooting for a while, as some stupid kid will get the idea to do something irrational himself. Luckily, down here he was stopped before anything more than just emails went out (hopefully the idiots everywhere will get scared at the last minute and just do something like this instead of another massacre!).

[DanGenck]

Isn't it true that back in the 30's and 40's, the news media knew that FDR couldn't walk and united together to NOT tell the public? I can only imagine that the media understood that it was in the best interest of the public that they not know he was paralyzed...

Was there no voice at NBC that said, "Maybe it's better that people not know this information right now?"

I'm not saying we never know about it... but maybe in 6 months, or 6 years? Not 2 days later...

[DanGenck]

Cheers to CNN for taking the torch from NBC and placing an article written by Ted Nugent on their front page.

What qualifications does Ted Nugent have to run an essay on the front page of cnn.com about gun control?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/19/commen ... index.html

[cjwilhelmi]

What qualifications does Ted Nugent have to run an essay on the front page of cnn.com about gun control?

Maybe because he is on the board of directors of the NRA?

[Adam G]

What qualifications does Ted Nugent have to run an essay on the front page of cnn.com about gun control?

Seemingly more than Tom Plate has to run the differing opinion.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/18/commentary.plate/index.html