Mass Media and Violent Events
The media is our resource for fast and informative news. With a growing number of 24 Hour networks to cover domestic and international news things are rapidly changing in the media world. This is especially true of media coverage of violent events, in particular those of large scale, is ever present once the story breaks. The question remains, is this helping our hurting us as a society?
The first part of this broad question is as follows: Does the media hinder our knowledge of the truth?
By most, the media is seen as a fast an accurate way to learn about events. However, events like the Columbine High School and Virginia Tech shootings call into question the media’s ability to contribute anything to our knowledge.
In these two events within minutes of media reporting conclusions were offered. There were hours of expert testimony, and detailed information given about who the offenders were and what turned them from model citizen to depraved murderers. The problem was the veracity of this information. The Columbine shooters were described as Goth, avid Marilyn Manson listeners, and obsessed with violent movies and video games. Seung-Hui Cho of Virginia Tech was also described as being obsessed with violent video games and movies. In both cases all details provided by the media were either completely false or gross exaggerations. The problem is the media rarely retracts any statements in these situations.
In the case of Seung-Hui Cho, it was his roommate who provided the contradictory details. We were lucky that in this case the interview with Seung-Hui Cho’s roommate was also on live national television. He specifically repudiated the claims that Seung-Hui Cho watched violent movies or played violent games. The roommate went so far as to say he did not remember Cho really being interested in either in any way. Despite this, many experts continued to rail against these two items as a primary cause for the tragedy. Not only did the experts continue, but show hosts actively encouraged the experts and disregarded the contradictory evidence. Why? Other entertainment scapegoats get people to watch.
This warps the ability for actual fact to come out. The media does not care what the truth is; the media cares about getting you to watch. In this line you will also rarely hear much about when the wrong suspect is caught in a case. The first arrest or theory of motive is sensational, anything that takes away from that “credible event or statement” will receive significantly less time, or none at all.
What we have come to rely on for our information has become a consumer product. 24 Hour news has caused the most damage. Not much actually happens each day that can be covered and be interesting. If they can keep one event interesting and consistently advertised to you, you will keep watching to learn what they present to you.
The people we are taught to trust for knowing our “up to the minute world” are not sustaining accurate knowledge. We need responsible media that does not cater to corporate sponsors have only profit as a requirement for success. Our ability to think depends on it.
3 Responses to “Mass Media and Violent Events”
By Bob on Aug 8, 2007 | Reply
I’ve had the opportunity (or misfortune) to be on the scene for several events that have made national and/or local news, and its very interesting to see how this are skewed by the time they end up on the air. Often its the details that get misplaced or exaggerated, or a small bit of conjecture by a random person can spin off an entire line of assumptions.
When the Columbine shooters were reported to be obsessed with violent video games they cited Doom as the game they played. At that time Doom was 6 years old, and would hardly be the game of choice for someone “obsessed with violent video games” when newer titles such as Duke Nukem, Grand Theft Auto, Command & Conquer, Heretic II, House of the Dead 2, Carmageddon 2, and others were all the rage. Doom was just a game sitting in the hard drives of dusty outdated PCs or being played by die hards more interested in custom level making.
By Chris Schaffer on Aug 8, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for sharing your experience Bob,
It is interesting how very small details and change or derail a full line of reporting. It can be understandable when working under such fast deadlines and requirements, but I hope one day we become more willing to wait for better details and not just the fastest.
Personally I was an avid Command & Conquer player. However, I have never heard anyone blame that game in particular for violence. Although now that I think about it, it would be fun to blame some of the Latin American rebel/freedom fighter militias on RTS games.
By Randilyn on Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
Keep up the good work.