7 Newsroom

NBC's coverage of VT Masscare

On April 18th, NBC Nightly News aired Cho Seung-Hui's "multi-media manifesto." If you're like me, you flipped channels to see who else had the video and pictures of Cho Seung Hui. After watching the first five minutes of the evening news, I knew that NBC had scooped the two other major networks (ABC/CBS). The scoop was short lived. ABC also broadcast the same video and comments from the killer. CBS was third, they threw up a few still pictures of Cho pointing his weapon at the camera. By 5:50pm, all three networks had the story on their evening news. So, why is NBC feeling the heat?

Turns out NBC received, in the mail, the envelope that contained Cho's video and pictures. In Cho's letter and Cd's mailed to 30 Rock, he explains the reasons why he had decided to murder 32 innocent lives(of course there will never be a good enough reason). NBC executives decided to air part of the manifesto. Meanwhile, grieving family members of some of the victims were so mad at NBC for airing the tapes, they canceled their appearances on the Today show. NBC News President Steve Capus defended the network's decision to air the video and pictures saying "we went over it for seven and a half hours. We didn't rush it to air. We weren't promoting it." After it was said and done, NBC decides to "severely limit" the use of the video in future newscasts.

I can certainly understand why some of of the family members were so upset with NBC airing part of the video and pictures. Why would any network news operation cater to a murderer? I mean, Cho doesn't deserve the attention after his death. Why allow Cho to speak from his grave?

It's my opinion NBC aired too much of Cho's Manifesto. They spent several minutes of Cho rambling on about nothing. Then there are the pictures of Cho holding his guns and pointing them at the camera. That really felt uncomfortable to me. I would not have shown those pictures.  However, I do feel airing parts of the material, with plenty of warning, was the right thing to do. Given that, I would have told my audience viewer discretion is advised.

Money And Politics

     The presidential election isn't until November 2008.  But the candidates are already filling up their campaign war chests with as much money as possible.  It's always interesting to see the competition heat up over who can raise the most money!  On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton was way ahead of the pack... in the beginning.  But Illinois Senator Barack Obama made a big move forward earlier this month when he reported an eye popping 25 million dollars had been raised by his presidential campaign so far this year.  Obama got his cash from 100,000 Americans, many of whom he chatted with over the internet at so called "Virtual House Parties."  They just clicked him the cash right over the net!  Hillary Clinton has raised 26 million dollars.  On the Republican side, the contribution front runner is Mitt Romney with 20 million dollars. 

     When you look at the mega bucks these candidates are raising, it's obvious that money and politics go hand in hand in this country.  Now just because you win the cash contest,  doesn't necessarily mean you'll win the election.  But you gotta' admit, having a hefty campagin chest and lots of money behind you, is definitely a prerequisite to winning political office.  And that makes me a little sad.  Especially when I think back to those innocent days of childhood, when people told you "You can be whatever you want when you grow up... even President of the United States!"  The fact of the matter is, more and more in our country, on a federal, state, and even local level, you must have money, or plenty of it in your corner, to win any kind of office.  Whatever happened to selecting candidates based on their true leadership skills, abilities, and genuine ideas and plans for making their communities better?... And not on who has the most money to buy slick campaign ads?!!!  Let me admonish you, Please as we enter a busy election year statewide and nationally, don't let your choice in the voting booth be dictated by superficial campaign ads and twenty second soundbites with a nice ring to them.  But instead, take the time to learn what will this man or woman do?  What's his or her game plan?  Take the time to really find out what makes a candidate tick.  The fattest purse doesn't always translate into the most qualified man or woman.  I know those days are gone when you could win an election without money.  But the voting populace still has the power to get candidates to tell us who they are... I mean really tell us who they are, and not just how good they are at fundraising.  Maybe one day we'll get back to a time in which the almighty dollar doesn't dictate who comes out on top. 

The Next Phase

We're now just weeks away from high school graduation. I'm sure I'm not the only parent who is having a few emotional moments. I am so proud of my daughter, Sydney, and her accomplishments and I know that it's time for her to move into the next phase of her life, but that doesn't make it any easier to let go.

I have enjoyed every minute of Sydney's childhood from the toddler running around in pigtails to the beautiful young woman competing in pageants and cheering for the Sulphur Tors. She has a spirit and an inner beauty that makes her one of the most wonderful people I have ever had the honor to know.

The one consolation we parents can hold on to is that just because one phase has ended we now have the joy of watching the next develop. What will she choose as a profession? Who will she marry? What will she be like as a mother herself?  I just realized, we are just beginning.