Doesn't Tragedy Deserve Respect?

Brooke Balzano
bb240415@ohio.edu

In today's world, tragedy is an unfortunate reoccurrence. Innocent lives are lost repeatedly, and our world has started to get used to hearing about mass shootings. For years the most notable shooting was Columbine in 1999, where 13 innocent people lost their lives. No one anticipated this tragedy to happen to them when they woke up that morning. No one realized what words would be their last. As tragedy struck, news outlets gathered to the Denver high school and began to broadcast the news. People deserved to know about the shooting and it created awareness for family members who could not contact their loved one, but when is the news coverage too much?

On December 14, 2012, I was sitting in my art classroom when my home state was changed forever. The teacher stopped the class from working to alert everyone that there had been a school shooting in Newtown, only 45 minutes away from my high school. I went on to Google and searched Newtown, Connecticut shooting to learn that Sandy Hook Elementary School had faced a tragedy that would compare to no other. Someone had entered the school with an AR-15 and murdered innocent children. Children who likely never had learned how to ride a bike, had their first kiss or lost their baby teeth. Children who would never learn to drive, legally drink alcohol or get married. Children who did not know that when they said goodbye to their parents that Friday morning, it would be the last time they saw them.

Source: WPTV 

News stations fled to the scene, each one trying to gain maximum coverage and break the stories first. This tragedy terrified residents of Connecticut but relied heavily on these reports for updated information. As time went on in the day, the death count seemed to raise little by little. It was a day I will never forget. On Monday morning, an announcement was made that the tragedy hit even closer to home because one of the children who lost their life was the grandson of Mrs. Pinto, a home-economics teacher.

Headline after headline was filled with the tragedy of Sandy Hook. There was even a conspiracy theory released that stated the shooting was entirely fabricated by the government and that the children who died never existed in the first place.

In a time filled with darkness, Connecticut natives were searching for some kind of light. News outlets covered funerals of children which began to blur the line of reporting for the interest of the people and being respectful. This massacre was a national story causing people all over the country to pay their respects to the family in any way that they could, although it seemed that local news stations couldn't do the same.

Victor Cruz, then a wide-receiver for the New York Giants, paid his respects to the family of Jack Pinto, a 6-year-old whose life was lost during the shooting. Cruz had learned that Jack was a Giants fan and that he (Cruz) was his favorite player, so he chose to pay his respects to him on the field. Victor Cruz stepped out on that Sunday with "R.I.P. Jack Pinto" and "My Hero" written on his cleats to honor him. He later drove to Newton to meet with the Pinto family and pay his respects in person, instead of just on the field.

Source: GumBumper

In a world filled with tragedy, it's easy to focus on the negatives. Even though "if it bleeds, it leads" may be a standard phrase heard in the newsroom, those who have bled become the subject of a tragedy. The lives that are written about in these stories are real people with families who are impacted and have feelings, so shouldn't respect go hand in hand with the headline?

Covering Breaking Stories and Accuracy

Hunter Graffice
hg551416@ohio.edu

In today's society, journalists are expected to report on a story almost instantly. The 24/7 news cycle has created an environment where journalists need to get a story out as quickly as possible, but the ethical challenge is reporting the story accurately and making sure it is fair to the sources/people affected.

In the past weekend, a shooting occurred in a Pittsburgh synagogue. A few hours after the initial reports came in, media outlets as big as People were reporting that one of the victims was a Holocaust survivor. The news spread like wildfire and the detail about one of the victims being a Holocaust survivor was especially haunting, but it wasn't even true. However, the story had already been spread as thousands, and probably millions, of Americans read the story. A tweet even went viral, spreading the misinformation to at least 300,000 different people. A correction was later issued, but the damage had already been done. Thousands of Americans believed, and some still believe, that one of the victims was a Holocaust survivor. The fact that the victim was not a Holocaust survivor does not lessen the atrocity of the event or change the story. Yet, there will be an enormous effect because of the mistake. In future arguments, proponents of gun control will cite the fact that the victim survived the Holocaust only to be killed in an American synagogue. Thus, misinformation will breed false claims and arguments that simply aren't true, creating a maelstrom of complacency and ignorance at the fault of the journalist.

Photo courtesy of Los Angeles Times

When information like that is falsely reported, it only further emboldens claims of "fake news" and the idea of the media being an enemy of the public. As the president continues to use this dialogue, it's imperative for journalists and news organizations to be completely accurate in their reporting and ensure that the truth is being told in these stories.

An element for journalists to keep in mind is the effect the words will have on the public and on those affected. In the story above, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people were exposed to a false piece of information. That detail shaped thousands of viewpoints and the story as a whole. By remembering the impact of details, it encourages journalists to value accuracy and transparency above anything else.

The best thing for a journalist to do is to acknowledge that they must be quick in their reporting and present the facts as they are. Also, they must recognize that telling an accurate story is much more important and carries much more weight than pushing out a story just to be the first to report it. While it sounds easy in theory, this of course is much more difficult in practice. However, audiences value the truth and by keeping the idea of accuracy in their mind, journalists can still report quickly and publish an engaging story. The fate of those affected, and the entire story, rests on it.

Feeding the Beast or Pumping the Brakes

Charles Garverick
cg701315@ohio.edu

Journalists are in a difficult situation. We live in a society today where breaking news has become the focus for news reporters. It's made having to throw ethics out the window when considering if/when to publish information -- something reporters are not a fun of.

“The news cycle is now 24/7 due to the Internet,” said Amanda Lamb, a 20-year crime-reporting veteran at WRAL-TV in Raleigh, N.C. “We no longer work for the next show. We work for the next five minutes on the Web.”

That's why from that article, the pressure is real for reporters to get information out on the internet as quickly as possible and can't afford to wait until their evening newscast. Keeping that in mind is the challenge that people face in newsrooms because they balance out the need to know now vs. making sure that the information they post does not defame or shine a bad light on the victim.

This was very evident over this past weekend with the mass shooting in Pittsburgh. I thought that CBS News did an excellent job with how they posted/reported on the issue. 

In their first intial report with the aid of The AP, they chose to explain as much information they knew about each victim.  As the "theme" of the readings was called "It Bleeds, It Leads," yes, CBS News led with something that had to do with death, but they got quotes of little anecdotes of these people's lives to humanize the story. 

CBS News did its best to respect the victims by telling their life stories. Credit: CBS News

That story was updated in live time throughout the next 90 minutes to provide additional facts that they learned in the field. The next story that proceeded that initial breaking-news story had live feed updates for what was happening with the shooter -- live at the scene. 

That story contained information with authorities -- information they could confirm. It also had information on what was next for President Trump.

Overall, covering tragedies are extremely difficult. From the first article, it mentioned that "when it comes to technology, it almost always wins over tradition." That's  a statement that carries a lot of weight for reporters, but with the example above,  I still think it's possible to do both, you just have to know what you're doing. 

If it Bleeds, it Leads Respectfully

By: Emma Kennedy
ek001915@ohio.edu

As journalists we have a requirement to report on breaking news, but we also have to keep in mind the ethics of putting a private citizen in the hot seat. Minors are never exposed in the media but maybe we should allow adults the same privacy.

We all know the classic saying "if it bleeds, it leads," when horrific events happen they are always breaking news stories. But we have to remember that the people involved in these horrific events have personal lives and family members and do not always want their face plastered all over computer screens.

A great example of this is the death of Mollie Tibbetts, a student from Iowa who was murdered. Her disappearance made headlines as did the discovery of her death because that portion of the story was breaking news. But soon after, her death became politicized because the man who killed her was an immigrant. Conservatives attempted to use her death as a reason to strengthen immigration policies and border patrol.

cnn.com

Tibbetts' family members have pleaded for the publicity to stop because they do not agree with the conservatives and do not want Tibbetts' death to be politicized. As journalists, we need to respect this because after her death Tibbetts no longer news worthy and there is no need to exploit her.

However, this is an extremely fine line because this is another post about Tibbetts, but she is news worthy again because of the over politicization of her death. If her death was never politicized and overly reported we would not need to worry about continuing to invade on her family's privacy.

As journalists, we need to be respectful when covering tragic events. We need to remember that when we cover deaths and mass casualties that means we are also covering grieving families. No matter who dies there is always someone who is grieving the loss and as journalists we need to respect that.

We need to be careful that what we write could completely change someone's life forever. If we write something bad about a person without a good reason was it worth ruining their life and the way people perceive them?

The most important part of a story is the news worthiness of the content. If a story is not news worthy we need to take a step back and weigh the consequences of running it against the positives.

Covering mass shootings and horrific events is a tough situation for reporters, they need to be published and quickly. But we need to remember the feelings of the people we are talking to and the feelings of those affected that will read it. Yes ten people died, but those people have more meaning than a headline.

We need to remember that as journalists we shape how the public feels about certain things and how we write shapes their opinions. Exploiting this is easy, so we need to stay vigilant when covering breaking news and stay ethical. There is never a need to ruin the life of a private citizen for a few extra clicks.

Respectfully Reporting on Mass Shootings

Natalie Butko
nb861214@ohio.edu

After a sad weekend of closely following the reports of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in my home city of Pittsburgh, I started to think about the multiple reports I had read. I read tweets from local reporters on the scene, articles from national media outlets such as the New York Times, and Facebook posts from friends who were affected by the tragedy. Should I trust all of these sources?

The question of trusting a source is asked far too often during tragedies like the one that took place in Pittsburgh this past weekend. Why do we question sources such as media outlets and loved ones that we should trust? Social media has changed how fast news spreads. Everyone from reporters to witnesses are fighting to report what is happening first. This fast-paced reporting style is elevated even more so when there is a tragedy.

Fast reporting by both the public and journalists in times of tragedy can lead to false information and more panic. How you report on a crime can impact others. Whether you're a journalist, witness, or dedicated social media user, keep the following tips in mind if you find yourself reporting on a tragedy.

1. Report on the attacker carefully. Irresponsible reporting such as glorifying the attacker can encourage copycat behavior. Use the perpetrator's name and photo sparingly in reports. Avoid using pictures of the perpetrator with guns or showing violence.

2. Don't increase prejudice around mental health. Many mass shooting tragedies are linked to mental illnesses. However, this is not always the case or attackers have not been formally diagnosed. Avoid stereotyping and always remember to include resources if mentioned. For example, "For help with emotional distress and/or suicidal thoughts, visit www.mentalhealth.gov."

3. Aim to educate and comfort. Unless confirmed by an official police source, be cautious about spreading information. Misinformation can cause a panic amongst the public, especially families of potential victims. Reporting should focus on facts and the public's need to know such as an ongoing threat.

4. Report on victims. This can sometimes be the hardest part of a tragedy to report. The stories of the victims are an important part and often remind readers of the amazing communities that have been affected. However, it is important to respect the victims and their families that are grieving. "It's a funeral, people -- not a TV station!" says a man to a crowd of journalists outside a funeral for one of the Newtown, Connecticut victims.

5. Including a manifesto? This is a tough decision that should be made case to case. A perpetrator's manifesto should only be reported or released when it adds important information to a story.

Source: www.reportingonmassshootings.org

Reporting on a mass shooting is difficult. With each act of terror that takes place, the reporting doesn't get any easier. Whether a member of the public or a seasoned journalist, reporters must keep in mind that the information will affect people. The goal should be to comfort and inform rather than to cause panic and encourage repeat behaviors. To brush up on even more tips for reporting on senseless tragedies such as the one in Pittsburgh just this weekend, visit the Reporting on Mass Shooting website.

Exploitation Versus the Need to Report

Helen Horton

hh157115@ohio.edu

Balance is key in every aspect of our lives. Without balance, our bread would not rise properly, our checkbooks would be off, and all of our buildings would be slanted and uneven. Balance also plays a role in journalism when it comes to debating whether the need to report a source or story is worth the exploitation and ethical risks.

Will Cooper spoke on Wednesday, October 24, as a part of the 90 Minutes series here on campus about journalism, masculinity, and the importance of ethics. Cooper is an alum of Ohio University, as well as one of the founders of campus's very own, Backdrop Magazine. He is currently a senior editor for Vice and he credits his media ethics class for giving him the ethical skills he needs to succeed in the world of journalism. "Ethics come in every step of the way," said Cooper, illustrating that ethics separates the good journalists from the great ones as it's not a class requirement at every institution. 

Cooper specifically dove into balancing reporting on underprivileged people versus exploiting them, during the discussion. He highlighted an example of this in a piece he created on the Cleveland Strangler. Cooper said that while it was difficult and uncomfortable to interview those victims, they were stronger and more resilient than he could have ever imagined. Cooper admitted that his fear was that his interview would come off on a negative start, wondering if his questions were the right, ethical ones to present to the subjects. The women were more than capable to have not only a good interview but a fantastic one, where they took the lead and ran the show.  This proves that great content comes from being uncomfortable if done in a respectful and ethical way.

The Columbia Journalism Review published a piece about how people who have been betrayed by the press due to inaccuracies are willing to go on the news again, as they think that any news exposure is good exposure. 

"And while subjects rarely feel betrayed, they do often feel manipulated and pressured, especially in the wake of traumatic events. In fact, the practices that subjects find most exploitative are the ones baked into journalistic routines, responses to the daily pressures of journalistic work, like deadlines. Often, the whole experience s more surreal to subjects than it is damaging."

This is prevalent in today's news cycle, as mass shootings and tragedies have become more commonplace on our front pages.

During the aftermath of the Sandy Hook massacre, reporters would flood the area and disrupt families' grieving processes to get the next big headline. Broadcasting & Cable detailed how the waves of media would swarm the surrounding area and harass residents for stories, information, and clickbait.

"Though the media crush has thinned considerable, there remains an uneasy relationship between the reporters and the residents. A woman keeps driving by, say the station staffers, telling everyone to 'get the hell out.'" The local media treated their neighbors with as much privacy and respect that they could muster, while foreign crews were focused solely on news.

"The remaining reporters are pleased to see the overseas crews have largely left. The sense of decorum was different with the foreigners, they say; they share reports of sneaking into private services, crossing police tape and chasing hearses from the non-U.S. reporting staffs."

The =n why are so many people feeling manipulated by the media? The desire for urgency and to "feed the machine" plays a large role, according to Poynter. We feed the machine so furiously thanks to the internet. The 24/7 lifestyle of our Androids and iPhones have made breaking news more accessible than ever, thanks to real-time notifications from companies like CNN, The New York Times, and Fox. This has fueled journalists into a deadline-crazed frenzy, much more so than the pre-internet newsrooms.

And when deadlines are the only thing on the mind, a lot tends to be left out. Pew Research Center surveyed the media's best and worst traits and showed that the majority believe the news in biased and makes poor choices in its reporting.

Source: Pew Research Center

At the end of the day, the ethical decision for a reporter is to not sacrifice the livelihood and respect of a person for the glory of a story. That is why it is key for journalists to keep ethics in mind when interviewing and writing. The news becomes the opposite of newsworthy if the information gathered is done in an unethical and hasty fashion.

Why Do Men Act This Way?

Ethan Sands
es700016@ohio.edu

There are people in this world who have begun to normalize all men. Usually because of some sort of pain that they have gone through in relation to a guy from their past. But has anyone really delved into why these men have been so toxic, or their childhood that could have pushed them to be harmful. Let me make myself clear though, I am not talking about serial killers or rapists who get off on their sentences because of their past. I am more so referring to the men who have led women on, don't put in effort where it is due and, sadly, men who cheat on their girlfriends.

Masculinity is something that has been questioned for a long time because of how it has been illustrated by men and perceived by women. The fact that there has been and overarching change in the understanding of masculinity. There is a lot to be said of how the LGBTQ+ community has had an impact on the way men freely experiment with their masculinity.

There are examples of people who step over these boundaries of masculinity that we seem to be boxed in as men. The idea that clothing can be sexual or have a single-sex has been starting to change. Jaden Smith has been seen to openly wear what he wants and not care about the thoughts and reactions of anyone, even his father.

 

Jaden Smith has become an icon for stepping beyond the masculine beliefs that men can only wear a certain style of clothing. In a recent interview on a new series on Facebook called "Red Table Talk," he stated that he began to wear the skirt to simply look fly. Though his father "has his feelings" about the style, he never rejected it. In fact, this is indication that Will and Jada Smith allowed Jaden and Willow to have freedom with their beliefs. Willow also tests the standard of femininity because of her unshaved underarms. This family is the epitome of change as they have started the trend of being different.

On Wednesday, October 24, 2018, there was an event held that allowed students to ask Will Cooper, an Ohio University alum who now works at Vice, questions. He discussed the toxic masculinity in its essence. He elaborated on the topics discussed in his piece, "All Masculinity is Toxic." The point that Cooper made was striking as he defines masculinity as an oppressor. In his dialogue on Wednesday, he went deeper into the topic as he broke down how he related to the information he gained from John Stoltenberg. Cooper described how his emotions were derived from the lack of emotion that he received from his father. He stated that because of his experience with strictly one feeling from his dad that he did not know how to act out of that small box. Cooper then mentioned that throughout his journey as a college student, he had to teach himself how to open up to other emotions. This is seen in his piece from 2017, "I Was Forced to Fight, Now I'm Learning to Cry," where he has a quote that defines who he was as a person - "Never in my life have I witnessed a man in my family cry--not my grandfathers, not my father, and not my older brothers."

I believe that a lot of men could make this distinct connection if they only looked within themselves to find it. This is by no means an easy task but to combat the disdain that we have as men for women. Our masculinity is already a power, why do we have to use it against them?