While many members of our oh-so-esteemed media were ghoulishly weaving the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre into their beloved gun-grabbing narrative, others were more concerned with getting a scoop … out of the mouths of babes.
Before the blood of 20 murdered children was dry, reporters descended on Newtown, Conn., to pry terrified reactions from traumatized schoolchildren.
Traveled to CT today, speaking with #SandyHook students http://t.co/gg3NOWel
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) December 15, 2012
Just look at the concern on Katie Couric’s face as she interviews those kids. What compassion!
Sensitive “real journalist” Piers “Musket” Morgan got in on the action too, bringing a child on his CNN program after spending the day politicizing the tragedy on Twitter.
is @piersmorgan serious? youre interviewing a kid who was traumatized today/lost her schoolmates. shame on you @cnn. #PrayForNewtown
— m a l l o r y Ⓥ (@mal_is_your_pal) December 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/jillyfitts/status/279772342933151745
Anderson Cooper refused to join his colleagues.
In answer to your tweets, no, Of course i will not be interviewing children from the school. I do not think that is appropriate at this time
— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) December 14, 2012
But dozens of other journalists sought out fragile child witnesses and frightened classmates with no regard for their state of shock or the further damage that might be done.
Good #CNN maintaining policy to interview child victims/witnesses of #Newtown shooting ONLY w/presence of their parents #media #journalism
— Michael Bociurkiw (@WorldAffairsPro) December 14, 2012
That pathetic CYA policy didn’t fly with viewers, and Cooper’s fellow CNN reporters were among the most criticized offenders.
Really CNN? She's in 3rd grade. "Was everybody crying, scared, wanting their parents to come get them?" http://t.co/wRjGbtmk
— Geoff Campbell (@GeoffBCampbell) December 14, 2012
I love how CNN has an opinion piece about not interviewing kids after a tragedy, along with 2 kid interviews. http://t.co/fz4TugU3
— James Finlay (@james_finlay) December 15, 2012
Seriously this guy on CNN is an idiot the media is terrible for interviewing a little kid after this horrific tragedy
— blue (@jeffblue16) December 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/drunkpiano/status/279770994644762624
@CarrieKvas It's disgusting. I saw one clip on CNN of a journo (as the parent is being interviewed) blatantly pulling over kid for interview
— Phillip Smyth (@PhillipSmyth) December 15, 2012
CNN wasn’t the only network seeking out children for interviews.
These kids just witnessed mass murder, why is CNN, Fox, MSNBC reporters the first people they are talking to, and not a child psychologist?!
— ✈Olv_So_Flyy✈ (@Double_Olv7) December 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/Carebear755/status/279694500442554368
And local reporters joined their national brethren in their attempts to be first at pulling tearful quotes from horrified children.
@LizaPersky You would have been sick at 12:30 a Ch2 Reporter was hammering a kid with questions, mom was w/him but I think she was just numb
— Ellen Karis (@GreekChickComic) December 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/MojaxxVDJ/status/279773560942252032
One journalist even suggested it was all for the greater gun-control good.
It's awful to see traumatised kids interviewed. But just maybe, it's emotive & shocking enough to spark some real change in DC #SandyHook
— Jacqueline Maddock (@Jacqui_Maddock) December 15, 2012
People of all political stripes, including some members of the media, were appalled by the quest to add to these kid’s emotional trauma in the name of “journalism.”
As a parent, I'd just like to make it clear that reporters interviewing kids right now are disgusting… #HaveSomeRespect
— Mario Lopez (@mariolopezviva) December 14, 2012
INDEED. MT @gretawire: Might be a good time for the media to rethink whether to air interviews with children… http://t.co/dthfhgEy
— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) December 14, 2012
https://twitter.com/FSBigBob/status/279654988807012354
Any media interviewing the children involved in the CT shooting should be taken off the air.
— Jill Pantozzi (@JillPantozzi) December 14, 2012
https://twitter.com/dibutler/status/279654357677527040
CNN interviewing children at the scene… hard to overestimate the moral depravity of today's media 🙁 #newtown
— Randell C. (@northernsooner) December 14, 2012
Dear media brethren. LEAVE THE SURVIVING KIDS ALONE…do not interview them…let them be enveloped with hugs & kisses from their families.
— Lisa Horne (@LisaHorne) December 14, 2012
https://twitter.com/DietPotter/status/279760004175785985
Here's a novel idea for media covering Conn. tragedy. LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE. QUIT INTERVIEWING THEM. THEY'RE KIDS, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 14, 2012
https://twitter.com/elamin88/status/279647592646864899
https://twitter.com/elamin88/status/279648283037671424
There is no way a reporter can ask a child a question that is developmentally appropriate and safe in that situation. You are doing damage.
— lyndsay (@krenshar_posts) December 14, 2012
Repulsed to see reporter interviewing kid. Kid is astonishingly composed, likely in shock.
— TheAnchoress (@TheAnchoress) December 14, 2012
Media stooping even lower than usual by breathlessly interviewing traumatized children. Scum.
— ???MAMADOXIE??? (@Mamadoxie) December 14, 2012
Today I saw the same media that preaches at me from a moral highground interview children at th scene of a schol shooting. No, really.
— Burn, Democrat-Run Cities, Burn! (@NolteNC) December 14, 2012
Take a bow, “real journalists.” You’ve outdone yourselves this time.
Update:
While survivors of the massacre are hopefully home with their families today, the vultures are still circling at Sandy Hook Elementary:
"NO MEDIA BEYOND THIS POINT" RT @thomaskaplan: Reporters are pouncing on any non-reporter who ventures near Sandy Hook. pic.twitter.com/s7amrofE
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 15, 2012
Let’s hope those non-reporters they’re pouncing on don’t include children today.
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