Amidst the turmoil, the sentiment towards the media on the issues of need-to-know vs. overdoing-it has started once again. The video clips and images of the killer have been repeated over and over again. The media has been quoted as saying this is common practice, and once the initial breaking news cycle is over, the video will not be aired as frequently. People on campus have been reported to ask the media to leave, as a backlash to the media’s repeated airings of those clips.
When does the public’s right to know infringe on the victim’s families right to heal? Some would say not to watch, while others believe it’s the principle of the matter. It ultimately falls on society not to watch, as the media primary motivation to repeat such violent ranting is profit. Repeating these images does not benefit the families, or the police. Neither does that benefit the public who already have seen it countless times. The only ones that benefit are the sponsors who ultimately pay the bills of the media corporations. The media has always been that way, but initially we all saw it as a positive. The media was what brought this tragic event to the national spotlight, and in effect helped others to understand the magnitude of suffering of the people in Virginia. When something is overdone it can have negative results; just something to keep in mind. People want to know the latest events, but the moment it becomes repetitive or we loose interest, that’s when it gets buried.
Just something all of us should keep in mind.
