Should NBC Have Aired Virginia Tech Killer’s Videotape
When is something clearly newsworthy clearly not newsworthy?Interesting question, wouldn’t you agree?Like millions of Americans, I watched the Virginia Tech killer’s videotape yesterday with shock and horror. (Please be advised: I refuse to use his real name, or publish pictures of him, for reasons that should be obvious, and wish all members of the media would adopt the same anonymity strategy…
Cho Tapes: Does Sports TV Have Higher Standards Than TV News
(Be sure and read the updates at the bottom of this story.)Since NBC complied with the Virginia Tech killer's desires to have himself splashed all over national television, the question arises: Did NBC act unethically by promoting Cho Seung-hui's videos? Jack M. makes a good, if somewhat profane, case in the affirmative:These guys are idiots.I can't believe they aired all this crap the shooter…
NYT: VT Shootings 'Tough' on NBC? Media Self Absorption Reigns
If one were to contemplate all the horrible results of the actions of this murderous psychopath in Virginia, if one were to wonder how hard and emotional have become the lives of the survivors of those whom this sick individual killed, it would seem axiomatic that the Mainstream Media would be the last group such a reflection would see as a recipient of the "tough decisions" resulting from the…
Pat Schroeder on Imus Incident: People Thought Meanness Was Masculine
Has the Imus-inspired national conversation on race and sex jumped the shark? I'm starting to suspect so after hearing Pat Schroeder this morning. Her most notable contribution to the collective dialogue was to suggest that there's something inherently masculine about verbal meanness.The former Democratic congresswoman from Colorado was a member of a panel moderated by NBC's Lester Holt on this…
Imus Firing: Lauer Suggests NBC Caved to Pressure; Vieira Holds Sharpt
Give Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira credit. On this morning's "Today," Lauer suggested to his boss's face that in firing Don Imus he had caved to pressure from advertisers and people like Al Sharpton. And Vieira held Al Sharpton's feet to the fire, now that he had Imus' scalp, about going after rappers and others who use similar language every day.Here's part of the exchange, which came at 7:…
Jay Leno to Dems: How Will You 'Stand Up to Terrorists When You're Afr
UPDATE with video link below jump.On the April 10 "Tonight Show," host Jay Leno joked about Democrats boycotting the Fox News Channel/Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate. Wondered Leno, "How are you going to stand up to terrorists when you're afraid of Fox News?"Maybe Jay should ask Time magazine's Joe Klein, who called the Fox News debate a "sordid event" that was a clever ploy to "…
The NewsBusters Weekly Recap: March 31 to April
"Just Because You’re Getting Married, Doesn’t Mean You Need Electricity" Members of the media are working environmental bias into the oddest segments. "Good Morning America" weatherman Sam Champion reported this week on the trendy new concept of "green weddings." According to Mr. Champion, "more and more Americans" are embracing ideas such as not using electricity during their wedding and holding…
Media Mostly Ignore Whether Pelosi’s Syria Trip Violated The Logan A
Imagine if you will that in September 1996, just days after America launched a missile strike on Baghdad to expand the “no fly zone,” Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich met with Saddam Hussein to discuss foreign policy matters without the permission of President Clinton. Would the media have vociferously discussed the possibility that Gingrich had violated federal law in doing so?If the answer is…
