Mall Shooting

[shinerbock]

As I stated, I have no idea what this guys motives were. I just find it ridiculous that outlets like CNN will talk about his horrible life and present possible excuses for his action, yet avoid talking or even mentioning his religion. If you're going to delve into why someone is the way they are, especially in this case, its ridiculous not to acknowledge that he is a Muslim.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

As I stated, I have no idea what this guys motives were. I just find it ridiculous that outlets like CNN will talk about his horrible life and present possible excuses for his action, yet avoid talking or even mentioning his religion. If you're going to delve into why someone is the way they are, especially in this case, its ridiculous not to acknowledge that he is a Muslim.

Well, apart from the point where Bosnian muslims are not extremists doing these things in the name of Allah...unless he yelled out 'allah akhbar!' or left a note proclaiming his intentions for his religion, he's like any screwed up human male with red blood in his veins. The Bosnian muslims I know barely practice.
I don't see why it has to be a huge deal that he's a muslim...I would never have known my friends were if they hadn't had told me. I'm pretty sure war atrocities are ranked a little higher on the scale of motives behind a tragedy like this.
Basically what I'm saying is, unless the person responsible is explicit in his reasoning for committing his crime in the name of his religion, it shouldn't come up.

[shinerbock]

I think it should come up, everything should come up. The guy shot up a mall for no good reason, I think theres every reason for every aspect of his life to be scrutinized.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I think it should come up, everything should come up. The guy shot up a mall for no good reason, I think theres every reason for every aspect of his life to be scrutinized.

I guess we can just say that you and folks who teach the ethics of journalism don't agree.

As near as I can tell (and granted we don't know the whole story), religion isn't a factor here, so it's not part of the story.

I suppose, though, that "conservative" journalists never bring up things that might tend to sensationalize a story.

That only happens with other journalists.

[shinerbock]

You continue to misread what I'm saying, apparently. I'm not saying we need an entire piece about his faith, I'm asking why news orgs are purposefully avoiding the subject matter. You're telling me its appropriate to delve into his past, including his presence during a massacre, yet we can't mention his religion? This thread is pretty stale now that the fact that he's muslim has come out, but it just baffles me why we go to such lengths to shield the public from facts.

I guarantee you if I was a Christian who has protested at abortion rallies or something, my faith would be on the front page when I shot up a mall.

I realize that Muslims are under a special threat in this country, but it isn't the role of the media to protect an entire religion. You act as though its unethical to examine the life of someone who killed 5 people. Whether it is or isn't, the clear precedent in journalism is to do so.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

You continue to misread what I'm saying, apparently. I'm not saying we need an entire piece about his faith, I'm asking why news orgs are purposefully avoiding the subject matter. You're telling me its appropriate to delve into his past, including his presence during a massacre, yet we can't mention his religion? This thread is pretty stale now that the fact that he's muslim has come out, but it just baffles me why we go to such lengths to shield the public from facts.

I guarantee you if I was a Christian who has protested at abortion rallies or something, my faith would be on the front page when I shot up a mall.

I realize that Muslims are under a special threat in this country, but it isn't the role of the media to protect an entire religion. You act as though its unethical to examine the life of someone who killed 5 people. Whether it is or isn't, the clear precedent in journalism is to do so.

I don't really care about mentioning the religion, but because he's Muslim some news channels make that into a bigger deal than anything else. Examining his life is good, making the religion the end all be all isn't.

And if you were Christian protesting an abortion clinic, you'd be doing it because of your faith. If this were (or turns out to be) a religiously motivated crime, I'd agree.

I don't really disagree with you, I'm just more tentative about it because of how the media abuses information.

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I guarantee you if I was a Christian who has protested at abortion rallies or something, my faith would be on the front page when I shot up a mall.

Not necessarily. If there were abortion-clinic patrons at the mall, and they were the target of your rampage, then it most definitely would be newsworthy. But, as far as we know, this man's faith has nothing to do with the incident at hand.

It'd be like the media saying, "He drove a red car to the mall. Obviously, all people who drive red cars are threatening to mall-goers." There's no obvious connection.

[shinerbock]

Sydney, I think what you said is the way it should be, but I don't think thats the way it is. When someone commits an random act of mass violence, your life gets examined. Considering the history of radical christian violence in this country, the fact that you were a rabid anti-abortion protester would be discussed in the media. Now, I'm not saying that the same should be done for this guy, I'm simply pointing out a double standard.

There is also a difference in contemplating whether his faith had anything to do with the act, and mentioning the simple fact. It would obviously inappropriate to make him being a muslim the story. However, when there is a very violent act committed by a Muslim from a war-torn homeland, I don't see the reasoning behind trying to avoid mention of his religion.

I do agree that media can make it a bigger deal than anything else, and I think that would be very irresponsible. On the other end of the spectrum I think many news outlets are doing the work of the Muslim faith, trying to paint it as a religion of peace. I'm not saying it isn't that, but I don't see protecting a faith's reputation as something a news media organization should become involved in.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I guess we can just say that you and folks who teach the ethics of journalism don't agree.

As near as I can tell (and granted we don't know the whole story), religion isn't a factor here, so it's not part of the story.

I suppose, though, that "conservative" journalists never bring up things that might tend to sensationalize a story.
That only happens with other journalists.

Oh, you've got to be kidding me. It was the contrast between MSM and conservative journalist that Shinerbock pointed out.

Ethics of journalism? Tell it to Richard Jewell. You've got to be kidding, again, DeltAlum.

Who is deciding that religion isn't a factor and that it shouldn't be part of the story? How do they know? Do you remember a time that the ethics or journalism involved reporting the facts?

Just the freaking fact that it was in Salt Lake City and the dude wasn't Mormon seems pretty newsworthy to me.


Muslims who shoot things up and kill people for reasons other than religion better start leaving notes so they aren't misunderstood.


I'm kidding about the last part, but really after Sept. 11th, March 11, and assorted other terrorist attacks in the name of Islam, it might not be a bad idea if you didn't want people to be confused about the religion of peace.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

Who is deciding that religion isn't a factor and that it shouldn't be part of the story?

Until somebody shows some proof that it is, it shouldn't be a part of the story.

That's the point.

[UGAalum94]

Do you see any evidence that the standard you expect is the standard being used by anyone reporting today?

How is being from Bosnia more connected to the story than the guy's religion?

[shinerbock]

So religion shouldn't be mentioned until we find out for a fact that it was absolutely relevant? Does that apply to other stories, like positive ones? I think this is a completely unrealistic though somewhat well guided notion.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I think it should come up, everything should come up. The guy shot up a mall for no good reason, I think theres every reason for every aspect of his life to be scrutinized.

The point is that no one asks what church the Columbine kids went to. Were they Christian? Lutheran? Catholic? Baptist? I'd be surprised if their religious affiliation was ever reported, much less made an issue of. Why is religion only an issue when it's something other than Christian?