I didn’t need to see the video
I didn’t watch the video.
I first learned of the on-air murder of the Virginia journalists when I logged onto Facebook. Someone had posted the video of the shootings, but reading the description of what happened, I knew better than to click the arrow to roll the tape. By now, we’ve all heard and read accounts of enough shootings to know what they look like. I didn’t need to see it.
Soon the networks were on to the story, and they were showing the video. In the shock of the first moments of a story like this, the coverage is all about breaking the news, and then trying to go back and fill in gaps of why, who, how – but mostly, why, why, why?
CNN played the video often, each time preceded by an anchor warning the viewers of the graphic content. Between the showings, anchors and reporters commented on how awful it must have been for the families of reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward to watch as it occurred. Eventually, a detail emerged that the two murdered workers were romantically involved with other members of the newsroom staff, one of them a producer in the control room at the time. All, families and loved ones, were blindsided by the sound of gunshots and screams that would forever mark the worst day of their lives.
If one of the true horrors of the event was that it played out on live television – if, in fact, the collective wish of all of us was that nobody had to see it as it happened – then why continue the horror with playback? The live broadcast of the murders could not be avoided. After that, the media could have made the airing a one-time, horrific event that passed from the camera and directly to the police, no longer available for public consumption.
Since Wednesday, much has been written about whether any of us should watch the video – that to do so is to reinforce the evil message of the killer. Although I agree with that, it’s not my reason for staying away. I just don’t want to have that picture in my brain.
But many did watch, or will watch it, and they have their own reasons, some of which I respect.
My complaint is with the disingenuous way in which the news outlets approached the showing of the video. If your news team presents a tone of empathy with the families and co-workers who were subjected to the scene as it happened, then don’t prolong the misery by rolling the tape over and over again.
About two hours into its coverage Wednesday morning, the CNN anchor announced that because of the graphic nature of the video, the network “would be showing the video only once each hour.”
In other words: In case you didn’t get a chance to see it, we’ll show it again in a while. So be sure to stay tuned!
Seems to me that if the video is too graphic, or if it’s too disrespectful to show 12 times an hour, then it shouldn’t be shown at all. All the sad anchor faces and hushed tones of respect don’t mean much when they’re just filling time until they can roll the tape again.
Until this week, most mass shootings weren’t live broadcast events. I’m afraid that will change now, and TV networks will have to decide how much to show.
If you think the video enhances coverage and understanding of a story, then show it. But if you show it, don’t apologize. Put it out there for what it is – a way to get people to watch.
I, for one, won’t be watching.
Beth Dolinar can be reached at cootiej@aol.com.