Accomplices

An article in Forbes discussing media complicity in aggravating -- yea, encouraging -- public shooting incidents:

Public shootings are a contagion. And the media are consistent accomplices in most every one of them.

There’s really no useful debate on the point. The consensus of social scientists since David Phillips’ groundbreaking work in 1974 is that highly publicized stories of deviant and dangerous behavior influences copycat incidents. Phillips’ and scores of subsequent studies showed, for example, that suicide rates spike in the week after an inappropriately publicized celebrity suicide. Contrast this trend with no increase in suicides in the week following a media strike that unintentionally suppresses such coverage.

For example, we know naming a shooter amplifies his or her influence. We know that when his or her race, gender and other personal characteristics are detailed, those who see themselves as similar are far more likely to feel a sense of permission to follow suit. We know details of the crime act as a virtual workshop for would-be acolytes. And for heaven’s sake, when body counts are not only reported but even compared to previous perpetrators, you incite a hideous competition.

The problem is that journalism as a profession tends to attract one of the least desirable sorts of people: egomaniacs. I don't know how many of you have ever met and interacted with a reporter in person, but those who have will back me up on this: you, as the subject of the news, are not important. Only the reporter's opinion and views are of any importance whatsoever. The best way I can describe reporter behavior off-camera is "distracted." It's like other people are just in their way.

You know that person in the office who will ask you a question and then ignore you while you answer? Or worse, start talking over you while you try to answer? Those are frustrated journalists; it's exactly the same mentality. Everything is about THEM, all the time, every time. Your views are irrelevant. As long as that sort of person is the typical reporter, (and I don't see it changing any time soon), we'll continue down this dark path.