Letter: Exploiting tragedy encourages more

Shame on the media in the way they treated the recent children’s disaster in Connecticut. It has become a shameful disgrace in my opinion for the way our reporters and news media jumped on this disaster and hogged up the news, interviewing survivors and parents who readily agreed to talk to the media about what happened.

I say the law should make it illegal for the media to profit or benefit from circumstances such as this one. I cannot think of anything more shameful for reporters to go out in this case and make a name for themselves on writing stories and interviewing survivors of this disaster. I pray this will never again happen anywhere, but I feel that exploiting the situation by news people is disgraceful and will only encourage more of the same for nuts who want to get on TV or the news!

I pray our Congress or legislatures will pass laws against the media exploitation of situations such as this one. All of this is in my opinion.

Sam J. Pigno

former superintendent of schools, author, mayor

Tickfaw

Comments

1) Comment by ScotB - 23/12/2012

I am never in favor of censuring the media, even when they are distasteful (which they frequently are).

2) Comment by tradewinns - 23/12/2012

the way the media covered this tragedy was way over the top. they reported the "news" then they spent days reviewing either the same things or reporting rumors (once they stated the rifle was left in the shooter car, it was the killing weapon) when all else is done, they interview the family friends or even the family. what do they expect the family to say about a 6 y.o. child? that they were a good kid who just fell into a bad crowd? the media, like lawyers, have no shame.

3) Comment by Bighug - 22/12/2012

Using the remote won't work on this one. You would think nothing else happened worth reporting for days after the tragedy. Isn't it ironic that the same news programs that went 24/7 with the news of the killings are now telling us about how so much attention will encourage copycats? How many times do we have to hear the same news?

4) Comment by Burl - 22/12/2012

I wonder how the quality of schools are in Tickfaw when the former superintendent writes such a poor argument.

5) Comment by gofigger - 22/12/2012

There is a law already in place - it's called respect for the victims and their families.

6) Comment by 1ryben - 22/12/2012

Mr. Pigno, you do have a very powerful means to limit such exposure. The remote control. What you are advocating is that in the wake of this tragedy we limit First Amendment Rights. Need on previous letters to the editor and articles I am curious how you feel about the Second Amendment?

7) Comment by spqr - 22/12/2012

We cannot protect ourselves from suffering if it is ignored or its scope is limited to appease what some consider good taste. And we all have different definitions of it. It is news. And like other posts have suggested, one can change the channel.

8) Comment by Bouncer - 22/12/2012

We all get weary of being over-saturated with news coverage of horrific events, and I understand the impulse to say "Enough!" That's why I am thankful that my televisions and radios have a built-in capability to switch channels or turn them off completely, and I can also choose to not read news stories about the event. I agree that some journalists do step over that invisible line sometimes, but advocating censorship of our press is not wise.

9) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 22/12/2012

Let me guess; this letter is brought to you by someone who wants the government out of their lives. Except for telling people what language they can speak, or whom they can marry, or what deity they must publicly worship, and, now, what news may be reported.

10) Comment by chem - 22/12/2012

No, I did not miss the point. I disagree with it. If you don't like what you are seeing or hearing, change the channel or throw away the newspaper or magazine. Silly laws making such things as stated in the letter illegal are myopic and oppressive.

11) Comment by jdk944 - 22/12/2012

@chem, you OBVIOUSLY miss Mr. Pigno's major point. The media have created an "obsession" around these forms of violent acts leading to others seeking their 15 minutes of fame by copying the same actions. Not to mention that what is reported to today by so called Journalists is rarely really news but just their slanted opinions!!!!!!!!!

12) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 22/12/2012

Yes its called the news. They can report tragic news like this without being so over-the-top about it though. Sensationalizing it is way out of line. The first rule they should abide by is how much they mention the shooters name. That is really what the driving force is behind copy cats. Suppress the guys name with the exception of law enforcement and what leaks out into social media and focus on the victims.

13) Comment by chem - 22/12/2012

Mr. Pigno, it's called "news". That is what the news media does, it covers the news. Quite a myopic, oppressive opinion stated in this letter.