When I saw the news about Gaddafi, I was shocked to see images of his bloodied body being drug through the streets. The images, which were first broadcast by the Arab news station Al-Jazeera, were then picked up by the major American networks. You can check out some of the news footage here, but be warned that viewer discretion is advised. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7385364n
Recently, I heard President Obama on the Tonight Show discuss why he decided to not release pictures of Osama Bin Laden’s body. He said in part, “You know, I think that there's a certain decorum with which you treat the dead even if it's somebody who has done terrible things."
This week in class, we will discuss the media, why they’re sometimes called the 4th branch of government, and how a photograph can alter our perception of events. So my question you this week is, “Do you think it is appropriate to show these kind of images when reporting the news? Why or why not?” Answers are due no later than Sunday, November 6th, 2011.
There is always a fine line of what is/isn't appropriate concerning the news. It is mainly based upon people's personal opinions and/or cultural beliefs. I believe it is wrong to show pictures/videos of dead people just for the sole purpose of degrading them, but. . . it may be okay in some instances to show people what really happens instead of believing that "ignorance is bliss". When we see these images of Gaddafi we see brutality, which is what war is made of. Maybe people who are not aware of how bad it really is will be aware and may get more involved or less involved.
ReplyDeleteI don't only believe that it is appropriate to show these kinds of images, I believe that it is necessary. Our country's media needs to be able show its citizens all sides of what's happening. I feel like most Americans get too comfortable in their lives, and it's important for us to think about the reality of what's happening in the rest of the world. An violent image like the Gaddafi death might help someone realize the gravity of the situation where words couldn't. I also believe images of dead U.S. soldiers is important to our understanding the reality of war. I don't feel like it is disrespectful or degrading because all of those soldiers signed up knowing the risks, and were probably proud of their involvement.
ReplyDeleteI have a different view of photo good journalism.I think photos like this bring us in to the real world let us know what really going on in this world. This man killed thousands of his own people when he took power,in 1969. I don't feel sorry for him at all he got what he deserve. Americana people is so shelter from whats really happen in this world when it comes to war or political uprising. Americana are at war this is what happens at war. I think everyone should see that war is not wrapped up in little bow it's death and bloody and we are lucky it's only happen a few time here in American, it's something we should not forget or let our kids go on and thinking it don't happen. This is what we pay the rebels to do get Gadaffi and they killed him and there will be more people killed .I just hope more of them then Americans and I hoping they will keep the war over there and not bring it to us here, but I think we see more in our future of terrorist. I think this war is a lot more than killing at 911 or weapons of mass destruction I am afraid this is more of a Religious war and American haven't figured it out yet I know the Middle East are calling it a religious war. I don't know why we as American can't see what's happening I think as Americans have blinder up and we don't want to take them down because we don't want to see what really happening we are safe here and now.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess that they could put those kind of picture are not really appropriate. It is just too gory for little kids and other people that don't like blood and guts. I think that the media needs to have respect to everyones emotions. I think that the media should tell use what is going on, but don't show the blood. If people want to see the gory videos, or pictures, then put them on the some place where everyone doesn't have to see it.
ReplyDeleteNews stations will show graphic material for ratings, whether it’s offensive or unnecessary. Even if someone such as Qaddafi was responsible for such disaster, I feel that maybe a few images should be shown but not continuously. As the news of Qaddafi being killed was spread on the news, the images of him were repeatedly being shown. Children, either with their parents or by themselves watching the news, should not be observing these types of graphics. Not only might children be frightened by such material, but anyone who is not used to the visual perception of people being murdered in media. If the body were to be cleaned up, captured by camera, then spread throughout the news, I would then believe the proof of Qaddafi would be appropriate. -AMBER
ReplyDeleteI think it's a matter of circumstances when it comes to releasing controversial images to the public. Images have a lot of power. In the case of the World Trade Center or Hurricane Katrina aftermath, those images could have inspired people to help the victims that might not have been interested otherwise. But I also agree with President Obama's statement. The dead, no matter how evil they were perceived to be, still deserve some respect.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is a level of respect that we need to pay to the dead as President Obama had stated. I don't think that just because a person has done evil things deserves to have the circumstances of their death plastered all over the news. Pictures have more of an impact than words sometimes and those impacts affect people in different ways. So how do we determine when a picture is too much for media? I honestly believe that we need to treat it like one of our family members. If my daughter died a horrible death and some how pictures were taken of that horrible death, there is no way in hell that I would leta anyone see those. Its just awful. Respect the passing, no matter how it was done
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to say when the media takes it too far. I feel like when were recieving news nothing should be blocked just so we can understand the extreme of a situation , but at the same time I see and agree with what Obama is saying about respecting his body. I also feel like if the media did hide footage and block photos some people wouldn't take it as serious. We know how media can twist and screw anything. As gross as some of what they show is, it stills gives us the whole story in a little more detail.
ReplyDeleteA picture is worth a thousand words but even some pictures don’t produce enough words. I found that the pictures I saw pre deployment to Eastern Europe did no justice to the real gravity of the situation. I think that Americans should look at these images of Gaddafi and read the brutality of a culture. In America we have had and will have leaders that we do not think are good for our country, the difference is that we will not wage war, murder them, and drag them through the streets. This kind of brutality is extremely common in Islamic countries, especially the ones that are controlled by groups like the Muslim brotherhood.
ReplyDeleteSo it is not the goriness of the images that bother me but the underlying message that the news media fail to point out. Is Libya’s “freedom” important? Will they truly be free? Did the U.S. make the right call? Will the new government be pro-America or pro terror? There were rumors that the “rebels” were connected to the Taliban, were these connections fully vetted before we assisted them? Arab Islamist do not want peace they want pieces.
I do not believe that is inappropriate to show this kind images on the news. Yes it is gruesome and at some points sad, but it is the truth and my believe is that if people want to know the truth they have to know and see everything that is happening.Like they say you can't cover the sun with one finger, meaning that you can't pretend it didn't happen. If people don't like watching does images there is warning before they show the images, just don't watch it.
ReplyDeleteIt is appropriate to show these kinds of images.It's important for us to think about what's happening in the rest of the world.
ReplyDeleteSharia Law= Christian persecution= a colabroation of Muslim nations trying to attack Israel led by the Muslim Brotherhood. On the spiritual aspect, he reaped what he sowed. Lawfully, they should have tried him, though. It being put on national TV is just a sign of the times. Debauchery, public executions, and brutal sport spectacles. Muslims just want all "moderate" Muslims out of power. The main goal is world domination. Sweden, UK, France, etc. 3 phases of Jihad. Jihad of the pen,political jihad, and then after Muslims population reaches 20% then Jihad of the sword.
ReplyDeleteI don't think any violent death should be advertised. I do think the news should be honest but hearing he was dragged through the streets, I already have a graphic image in my head. I don't need to see a picutre to prove it. Like the president said, there's a certain level of respect you give to the deceased. They should have handeled it the same way when they announced Osama Bin Laden and not released any images.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the only kind of news, media does show is bad news. Things like death shouldnt be public. People do not want to see people jumping out of towers or even death on the television. I believe just out of respect these things shouldnt be out there. The medias a dirty thing.
ReplyDeleteI feel that in some cases it would be appropriate for pictures of the people to be being published. I definitely feel that the pictures don't need to be gory or show the dead body,but maybe a mug shot of the person so we can see what the person truly looked like. No one wants to see dead bodies or see depressing images. The media doesn't think about it's viewers and how words and images can affect them.
ReplyDeleteThere is right and a wrong to almost everything in the media today and when it comes to pictures of the deceased i believe that if the person is in one piece then it is appropriate to show the photo but I don't believe that they should show anything super gory on telivision
ReplyDeleteI think it is the right thing to not show pictures like that. NO that we need to respect those certain people but it helps us as a country remain more respectable ourselves. There is a point where we must put limitations on the media. They can not show everything they get their hands on. I think the media is out of control as it is.
ReplyDeleteI think it is good journalism to show pictures of this nature. Although some pictures were gruesome, it was what really happened, and people have a right to see. If you don't want to see it then don't look. The media doesn't care about respect, they care about showing the people what really went down.
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ReplyDeleteJournalism should refrain from showing these kinds of gruesome images, not only out of respect for the dead--if respect they deserve--but also out of taste.
ReplyDeleteIt is bad taste to show images of a mangled, bloody Gaddafi. It serves no definite journalistic purpose, it is merely sensationalism. The same goes for Bin Laden's death: we believe he's dead, we don't need to see the corpse for our entertainment purposes.
I think good journalism is when the photo tells a story and you can understand what they are trying to show you. Going to far and taking pictures that make people feel uneasy is bad journalism. yes, you want to show the people what happened, but I think there is a better way to do so. illustrate it in a way that will make the view understand and want to see more, not turn them away.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is not appropriate to show these kind or images. For one they are vile, and for two there is something called respect. When it comes to respect, everyone should have respect and show respect. In the ancient world, after a battle each party was given time to collect their dead and give proper burial. That also leads to having respect for the dead. No matter who has died, no matter the crimes they committed everyone deserves that much.
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