Some news outlets have gone so far as to swear off even using the names of school shooters to avoid giving them the publicity they seem to crave (and that might inspire others).
The Washington Post is not one of those outlets, and it managed to anger a lot of people Wednesday night by publishing a story publicizing newly released videos made by the Parkland school shooter.
Parkland suspect Nikolas Cruz detailed plans in videos: ‘I’m going to be the next school shooter’ https://t.co/2lgFOdu4Pj
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/DanFosterType/status/1001995982802911234
TAKE THIS DOWN IMMEDIATELY. It's irresponsible!
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) May 31, 2018
The Washington Post even says in its own article:
In his boasts about becoming famous, the teen touched on something that has worried survivors of shootings and their relatives alike. Some have called for news organizations to limit their coverage of mass killers to take away the very infamy those attackers describe as a draw. Survivors of the Parkland attack made a similar argument Wednesday, pleading for attention to be paid to the victims rather than their attacker.
No! Do not reward him like this! You're literally encouraging the next one!
TAKE! THIS! DOWN!— WinsomeBulldog (@winsomebulldog) May 31, 2018
This is irresponsible and encourages copycats. Please take this down.
— (((AG))) (@AG_Conservative) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/CapitalMinority/status/1002006554890129408
Take his name off the headline and out of the story, this is disgusting and incredibly irresponsible.
— Gail Finke (@gailfinke) May 31, 2018
Stop making him more famous.
— Calvin (@calvinstowell) May 31, 2018
REMOVE THIS!!! ???
THIS IS WHAT HE WANTED! HE SAYS IT IN THE VIDEO! https://t.co/AfeHSZtDZg
— The Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) May 31, 2018
This is absolute junk. The @washingtonpost is a terrible news organization for publishing this story and these videos. No wonder everyone hates the media. https://t.co/0SA21kylIQ
— Aaron Bitikofer (@AaronFromDover) May 31, 2018
You guys love to play the high moral card when it comes to guns/gun violence and yet here you are glorifying this psychopath for clickbait and possibly inspiring more nutjobs like him smh https://t.co/X4IXWrEVwn
— Devo (@DevonWa1) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/OxygenRequired/status/1002003027144925190
Stop using his name. Stop sharing this video. Stop giving notoriety to shooters. We as journalists need to take a serious look at ourselves in the mirror and stop this bullshit kind of reporting. https://t.co/DkguOWP9JZ
— beck (@b3ck_on) May 31, 2018
Take this down. Absolutely disgusting. https://t.co/48Blxd8dDd
— regs (@Regshoch12) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/YardageLocks/status/1002002478429335552
Same people complaining about gun control are the same ones making these psychos celebrities.
Tell me how it's only a gun issue though https://t.co/33M2BEnsTj
— Austin Sommer (@AustinSommer) May 31, 2018
Take this down, how can you not see the twisted irony of your stupidity. Details about these shooters only inspire copy cats, which is what your article is about! WP publishers are either corrupted by greed or morons. Probably both https://t.co/AZBz6WelPp
— Will Watson (@_willwatson) May 31, 2018
This needs to be removed immediately https://t.co/VlQXZmThvd
— Anthony J. Aguayo (@aj_aguayo) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/Korey_Michael/status/1001999735828484096
Worst thing any media outlet has ever done in my lifetime. Take this down @washingtonpost https://t.co/HtGtqlSCiZ
— DWH (@DWalHeinz) May 31, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheWesKirk/status/1001998995466661888
Don’t use his name. Delete this. https://t.co/nJ58KMQBJv
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) May 31, 2018
And you are giving him the glory he sought. Shame on you, you embolden copycats. https://t.co/24IOGb59Zj
— Tracy Smith Myers (@TracySmithMyers) May 31, 2018
Take this crap down. You are feeding the problem!!! https://t.co/CNGRzVTigc
— Peter Martin (@PeterMarrtin) May 31, 2018
Congratulations. You’ve managed to bring everyone together on this. Pretty much everyone wants you to take this down.
This was a terrible idea to post this.— Ric White (@ScoobyCheese) May 31, 2018
The Parkland shooter's name is trending #1 in multiple areas because of a video's release where he said that notoriety is what he wanted… When will people learn?
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) May 30, 2018
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