HEROES

all hail to CBC and Editor-in-Chief Tony Burman. CBC has proven to have learned from past mistakes and is, indeed, making an effort to practice what they have preached. a conscious decision was made to not sensationalize the Virginia Tech massacre. Burman writes in his Letters from the Editor in Chief:

Several specialists in the field in both Canada and the U.S. argued that the media’s blanket coverage of these “crimes of notoriety” encouraged copycats by “glorifying” their act. They urged the media to reduce their preoccupation with the killers, their identity and their photographs — and not report “idle speculation” about their motives...Overwhelmingly, the focus of our CBC coverage on radio, television and online has been on the victims and the many important issues which flow out of this tragedy.

as evidenced by the comments made to Burman's words, the question of whether or not CBC is ethically superior to other news stations is not something we will all agree on but i think they should be commended for daring to go a different route. CBC is being accused of whimping out and not keeping up with their counterparts but it seems to me that they have reported the news as opposed to gossiping about it. others have claimed that seeing the images "moved [them] to action." it was an eye-opener. i think it's sad that we need to bear witness to realize that 32 innocent people being gunned down is a horrific thing.

is this my cop out? i don't know if i'm becoming complacent but i am sick of feeling like that guy from A Clockward Orange with his eyelids pinned up and being forced to watch violent images - only in the movie it is done to the purpose of reforming and here it is informing. the ill effects of seeing these things comes from within, as i think it should be. without external negative consequences to these images, how long will it before i'm desensitized and no longer feel sick when i see bad things happen? i feel like the captive audience and the media has forgotten they need serum no. 114 for this experiment to work. i'm not being reformed, i'm over informed and i for one don't feel moved to any productive action. i can only sit with my mouth gaping in shock of how disturbed this guy was.

i feel like i've overdone the ranting but i am confused about the fine line between responsible informing and turning a blind eye. i don't know if CBC is doing the right thing but i greatly appreciate their option plan.