NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

[raccoonradio]

from Drudge
FLASH: RATINGS BLOWOUT FOR NBC NEWS... 7.4 RATING/15 SHARE FOR BRIAN WILLIAMS AND CHO TAPES, NIELSEN OVERNIGHTS SHOW... 6.2/12 FOR ABC ‘WORLD NEWS’... CBS COURIC AT 4.2/8...

Reuters: “”We had planned to speak to some family members of victims this morning but they canceled their appearances because they were very upset with NBC for airing the images,” said NBC “Today” morning program co-host Meredith Vieira.

 

[jal41]

Re: NBC: families cancel appearances

Reuters: “”We had planned to speak to some family members of victims this morning but they canceled their appearances because they were very upset with NBC for airing the images,” said NBC “Today” morning program co-host Meredith Vieira.

Serves NBC right. They should have withheld the videos and pictures for a few weeks, and then invited the families to view them in private before publicly releasing them.

 

[BRNout]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

from Drudge
FLASH: RATINGS BLOWOUT FOR NBC NEWS... 7.4 RATING/15 SHARE FOR BRIAN WILLIAMS AND CHO TAPES, NIELSEN OVERNIGHTS SHOW... 6.2/12 FOR ABC ‘WORLD NEWS’... CBS COURIC AT 4.2/8...

Reuters: “”We had planned to speak to some family members of victims this morning but they canceled their appearances because they were very upset with NBC for airing the images,” said NBC “Today” morning program co-host Meredith Vieira.

Gee, I wonder why...

I'm sure that they also enjoy seeing this jerkwad's color photo on every front page in America, brandishing 2 guns in - what I am sure was - his favorite pose. It's sick. The media have collectively made this creep into a superstar! NBC started it, but they are not alone in this. Not by a long shot.

Someone made the observation that sports channels do not show people running out onto the field of play. They do this because they do not want to encourage such behaviour. However, this concept has not made it over the cubicles to the news department because that is just what they're doing. Sadly, this may encourage others to follow suit. And, the media's fixation on the body count will encourage some nutjob to try and "beat that". Go out in a blaze of 'glory' and become a star. Think about it: how many other disturbed and isolated individuals are out there with the same rage and lack of conscience that this Cho slime had?

My sincere condolences go out to the victim's families. This crap on TV and in the papers just serves to victimize them for a second time. I truly feel for them.

 

[AKLes]

Setting a new standard

I definitely am opposed to censorship.

However, I think many aspects of this week's V-Tech coverage have had the effect of "setting a new standard". Not for coverage; rather for somebody to seek to set a new record for number of deaths in a rampage.

And, yes, I can see it being turned into a "Reality Series", such being the tastes of the public.

 

[Anyacat]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I am completely offended by the idea that sobbing families is somehow legitimate news. I don't know why these families wanted to go on NBC in the first place. When did grief become a spectator sport?

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

It's horrible. This maniac got exactly what he wanted because he knew the media would have a feeding frenzy over that multimedia package he sent to NBC News. And with the constant airing of his crazy ramblings, they're birthing more and more copycats. It's despicable and it's deplorable. My thoughts and prayers go out to those at Virginia Tech.

 

[mjlarochelle]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I've had enough of this whole story in general. All my mother wants to watch is CNN. My father and I can't pry the remote from her hand and she insists on watching the wall-to-wall coverage which has nothing much new.

 

[dhett]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I am completely offended by the idea that sobbing families is somehow legitimate news. I don't know why these families wanted to go on NBC in the first place. When did grief become a spectator sport?

You're spot on, Anyacat. Voyeur TV is big business, so we have "reality" shows, talk shows where the dysfunctional air their dirty laundry in front of millions of total strangers, and TV seeking out the most compelling victims in hopes that that one emotional interview will create the buzz that they so crave. Then there are the victims who can't wait to tell their story on TV, resulting in a symbiotic relationship between the two.

I have no problem with NBC airing the videos; that's news. If people don't like it, that's the purpose of the off button on TVs - so they don't have to watch.

And I wouldn't worry about NBC spawning copycats, either. Those predisposed to copying will do so just from the descriptions they've heard. I'll bet they get their news from the Internet anyway. Or from The Daily Show. They'll think whatever Jon Stewart tells them to think.

 

[formeraa]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I am completely offended by the idea that sobbing families is somehow legitimate news. I don't know why these families wanted to go on NBC in the first place. When did grief become a spectator sport?

Yeah, Katie "The PM Flop" Couric started that after the Columbine Massacre and now everyone tries to "get" the sobbing families. Good Grief, American, can't we let people grieve in private? That's what social and religious leaders are there for...to help in difficult times.

 

[Anyacat]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I am completely offended by the idea that sobbing families is somehow legitimate news. I don't know why these families wanted to go on NBC in the first place. When did grief become a spectator sport?

You're spot on, Anyacat. Voyeur TV is big business, so we have "reality" shows, talk shows where the dysfunctional air their dirty laundry in front of millions of total strangers, and TV seeking out the most compelling victims in hopes that that one emotional interview will create the buzz that they so crave. Then there are the victims who can't wait to tell their story on TV, resulting in a symbiotic relationship between the two.

I have no problem with NBC airing the videos; that's news. If people don't like it, that's the purpose of the off button on TVs - so they don't have to watch.

And I wouldn't worry about NBC spawning copycats, either. Those predisposed to copying will do so just from the descriptions they've heard. I'll bet they get their news from the Internet anyway. Or from The Daily Show. They'll think whatever Jon Stewart tells them to think.

If the why of the story is not news, I don't know what is. I'm sorry that the public is no longer clear about what is news and what is infotainment. But I think at the heart of the problem is that everyone WANTS to be on television, they want the fame and will do most anything and use any excuse to get there. Now that news is being managed by entertainment, this kind of confusion is inevitable. We cannot censor news just because we think some nutcase will repeat the crime. People do not need TV, movies or music to discover new and inventive ways to commit acts of violence. Sorry you don't like the Stewart shows, it makes me laugh--which is what it is intended to do.

 

[network]

Re: NBC: families cancel appearances

Serves NBC right. They should have withheld the videos and pictures for a few weeks, and then invited the families to view them in private before publicly releasing them.

Bullcrap! You're another person who doesn't have a clue. It doesn't "serve NBC right." It's a consequence of their decision to air them. Which happens in every day life. At times, there are consequences to decisions that are made.

Just because people like you do not agree with the airing of them, it does not mean they should have sat on them for weeks. There is nothing wrong with the pictures (now showing them on an incessant loop, that's another). They are freaking stills for chrissakes. I think the footage that was from Columbine was even worse. You had SEVERAL videos of students running from the building with their hands up in panic...you had videos of students jumping from windows...you have school surveillance video of panic in the cafeteria and the 2 killers in there. Need I go on?

The videos were NEWS. Unfortunately, you -- along with many others spouting their cluelessness on this matter -- can't tell the difference. If NBC would have sat on these, then you'd be the same person screaming censorship, so gimme a break.

The news industry is not in the business to make you happy. They are in the business to deliver news -- and sometimes the decisions made will not be met with approval.

Oh well. Get over it. :

 

[BRNout]

Re: NBC: families cancel appearances

The videos were NEWS. Unfortunately, you -- along with many others spouting their cluelessness on this matter -- can't tell the difference. If NBC would have sat on these, then you'd be the same person screaming censorship, so gimme a break.

The news industry is not in the business to make you happy. They are in the business to deliver news -- and sometimes the decisions made will not be met with approval.

Oh well. Get over it. :

There is no need to be nasty here - people's opinions do not reflect "cluelessness" just because they YOU don't agree with them. Maybe you do work in one of those Manhattan newsrooms, because your written demeanor belies the same level of arrogance and the same "we know better than you" attitude. A bunch of C students who know better than everyone else.

Come on, are you seriously trying to defend the manner in which the killer's videotape has been run constantly?

The collective media have clearly acted irresponsibly in this matter and NBC set the pace. They could have shown the tape in very measured doses (yes, they are news), but chose instead to make this guy into a superstar of infamy.

Real journalists understand the balance between their responsiblilty to report the news and their responsibility as a citizen. Or, at least they used to. Now we have The New York Times routinely printing national secrets and every TV station and newspaper in the nation featuring Cho as a headline - shown brandishing 2 handguns while dressed in full battle regalia. I am sure that this has exceeded his wildest dreams.

Is it any wonder that the victims' families won't talk to the media and the VT campus has essentially frozen the news media out? Don't YOU get it?

For all of the spouting about 'social responsibility' that you see on the various TV/cable networks, they sure don't follow suit. Hypocrites.

 

[Markxxx]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

The fact is the story is OVER. It is sad but the victim's families are only seeking to be ON TV. They have nothing to add. As cruel as it sounds, they bury their dead and move on. Just like the hundreds of other people that are killed in America each year. Yes I am very sad for those people, but them going on TV to say "My child was a good son who didn't deserve this," isn't news. It doesn't help them and all it does it serve to make them "famous."

Now they seek more attention by saying "I won't go on NBC news" Big deal, you'll just go somewhere else and NOW you get an additional 15 minutes of fame by not only getting attention from your child's death but from being able to discuss NBC's mistake on CNN and FOX.

This whole reality show, YouTube crap whereas everyone wants to be famous is really getting out of hand.

 

[dhett]

Re: NBC: huge ratings with "package" but families cancel appearances...(VTech)

I'll bet they get their news from the Internet anyway. Or from The Daily Show. They'll think whatever Jon Stewart tells them to think.

Sorry you don't like the Stewart shows, it makes me laugh--which is what it is intended to do.

You're reading into my post an opinion that was neither stated nor intended.

I never said I liked or didn't like The Daily Show - truth is, I don't watch it because I don't have cable TV. I'm not particularly fond of Jon Stewart - he reminds me of a Bill Maher, except with a wicked sense of humor - but my point was that the kind of morons that would try something like copycat violence threats would be the kind that watch Stewart's show, not for the satirical entertainment for which it is intended, but as honest news.