Hundreds of thousands of businesses and individuals pay public relations firms and publicists weighty retainers to get their messages out - to break through to an audience. Ford Motor Company wants you to know they're "bold." Obama wants you to know he's experienced enough to be President. I want you to know that I'm the witty go-to guy on American Idol commentary.
The demented Cho has managed to become not only a household name but also a legend in record time - and he didn't have to pay anyone to do it for him. Sending his press kit to NBC may be the only rational thing he did - since NBC News took the bait (in record time).
Here's a challenge: Give me a single upside to NBC showing the video, even the stills, from Cho's press kit. (Sorry, no prize this time.) Just one good thing that will come from this.
Last night, I watched MSNBC for about 45 minutes. Three different guests (one profiler and one psychotherapist included) made it clear beyond a shadow of a doubt that Cho's "content" was worthless; that there was nothing to learn from his rantings; that he was probably, among other things, a paranoid schizophrenic. In short, his words had no meaning.
A couple of guests applauded NBC for handling the material responsibly. The endorsements seemed suspiciously planted. One guest went so far as to say that this material would have gotten out there in some other way had NBC embargoed it. Really? Then I guess I can still catch the footage of Steve Irwin getting zapped by the stingray.
You don't need to give me the downside to airing Cho's multimedia presentation: further desensitization, inspiring of copycats ... I got those covered. (Media neophytes Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris left their fans wanting more image-wise. Cho's iconography might be kind of hackneyed but it's plentiful, perfect for screensavers. A few may even make the leap to t-shirts, a la Patty Hearst. Or how about "Cho" instead of "Che"?)
Of course everyone else showed the meaningless footage, no doubt accelerating the mythologizing of Cho. (Jeez, it took Mother Teresa seven years to just get beatified.) This morning a Fox News correspondent stood in the hallway outside Cho's door room in Ambler. Room 2120. This was The room of The man who perpetrated The worst mass shooting in American history, we were told. How long before the plaque that reads "Cho Slept Here" goes up?
***
UPDATE: Some commenters say I'm supporting censorship. I don't think I am. After all, news organizations get pitched stories constantly - by Proctor & Gamble, by the DNC and RNC, and in this case by a lunatic. The editorial staff need to decide what's newsworthy. In this case, I think the sending of the tape is itself a story. The content of the tape? Not so much.
But speaking of censorship, does anyone else find it almost funny to watch and hear the rantings of a homicidal maniac - but with the naughty curse words bleeped? Wouldn't want to freak the kiddies out!
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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The Legend of Cho (Brought to you by NBC)
Posted Apr 19th 2007 8:03AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: Virginia Tech Shooting, Cho Seung-Hui
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Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 74)
1. Hillary is taking some heat from the left for not doing enough to stop Cho: http://www.solidpolitics.com
Bill at 9:06AM on Apr 19th 2007
2. Scientology will reverse it's antiquated beliefs in regards to mental illness. Thetan be damned.
gina-bo-bina at 9:29AM on Apr 19th 2007
3. Finally someone says something worth saying. I just don't see why they keep playing the tapes over & over & why I can't sit through one meal at the chow hall without seeing his face 500 times. Its sickening how quickly he's become a martyr. It's disturbing to say the least. NBC needs to stop airing the footage & pictures. It's disgusting.
Shep at 9:34AM on Apr 19th 2007
4. Mo Rocca, your challenge: Give me a single upside to NBC showing the video, even the stills, from Cho's press kit. Just one good thing that will come from this.
well here you go...how about the value of hmmm maybe it is time to bring to the table issues of mental illness in combination with the need for a change in gun laws...seeing a college kid with a history of mental illness with guns in his hands after and before killing others...well I would say a pretty powerful point maker...afterall isn't a picture worth a thousand words!
Carol at 10:32AM on Apr 19th 2007
5. It looks as if NBC has made another bad call
chuck at 10:33AM on Apr 19th 2007
6. Shame on us for playing that video over and over again. Shame on us for torturing the families of the victims by showing that video and plastering Cho's picture everywhere. It should have been left for the professionals only...but then again that wouldn't have made money and in America that's what it's all aboout!
char at 10:35AM on Apr 19th 2007
7. NO news value to the tape--the murders had been committed, the identity of the killer was known, he was dead, and the crime scene had been secured. Some other pitiful mental case may see this and conclude he/she should go out in "blaze of glory" and get his/her name, picture, and twisted comments on TV to be watched by millions. The 24/7 news on a bunch of different networks is a curse, not a benefit.
Wolf at 10:37AM on Apr 19th 2007
8. The news in their rush to get news on the air fail
to take into account what effect they have on the general public especially children. As far as airing
Cho's ranting they play right into giving him more
attention that his act was looking for. In addition
to that almost every news outlet had to mention Columbine in the same sentence. They treat us as dummies, no one will forget Columbine of what happened at V Tech. We didn't ant to see his raving.
It is obvious he mentally unstable and we could have
been told that and leave it at that. The press is so
anxious to report the most heinous crimes but never stop to think about their affect. I personally watch the news to get the weather and little else.
There is very little content that doesn't make me
squirm in discomfort. I wish there was more heart
warming news but apparently that doesn't generate enough money but more nuts who kill people who have nothing to do with their pain. Quit promoting what this lunatic did!
Steve at 10:41AM on Apr 19th 2007
9. He is clearly a disturbed individual. While his video may not provide clues to his diagnosis his plays clearly point to some issues. The plays are available on the internet and both of them have an underlying theme of molestation. I have to wonder if he was a victim of molestation. That would certainly explain his incredible rage. He should have been forced into an inpatient treatment facility. The mental health professionals, his professors, and the Univeristy really dropped the ball here. If anyone bothered to take notice, he was sending out multiple signs of emotional instability. Why was nothing more done? This tragedy could have been prevented!
Judy at 10:43AM on Apr 19th 2007
10. It is us. Don't you get it. We are a salacious nation and the media knows what sells.
Paul McMenaman at 10:43AM on Apr 19th 2007
11. Terrible news decision. Serves no purpose other than news revenue.
J. Stuckey at 10:45AM on Apr 19th 2007
12. I couldn't agree with you more, Mo! The same reaction was felt this morning when I opened my morning newspaper and there was Cho's pic, holding a gun to his head, along with the another picture...the headline reading 'Killer Rants'
Surely the public would be better served concentrating on the wonderful lives of the deceased victims of this tragedy!
Thanks for your intelligent insight!
peggz at 10:47AM on Apr 19th 2007
13. Mo, all good points, but one. You may consider yourself the "go to guy" for Idol commentary, but Linda Sharp is lightyears beyond you in terms of wit and hilarious recaps. Give her a Google! You two would make a serious comic team.
Jeff Denton at 10:51AM on Apr 19th 2007
14. NBC did take the bait and has shown far too much of the "Gunman Videos," and then show them over and over again so soon after the tragic event. The impact on the families and friends of the victims and students at Virginia Tech, not to mention the general public has to be shocking and overwhelming. The gunman was undoubtedly impacted and influenced by the Colombine news videos and look what happened! NBC -- stop it NOW! It's not too late to set an example to universal news media and refuse to air these kinds of images.
If there is anything good to come out of this terrible tragedy, I hope that it brings national attention and funding to the huge need to totally revamp our mental health system. Too many people with potentially dangerous violent behavior are falling through the cracks, because of lack of care and facilities, and need to be removed from society so they can't do harm to themselves and others. As mother of a mentally ill son of my own, although thankfully non-violent, I know what I'm talking about.
Marjorie at 10:53AM on Apr 19th 2007
15. I couldn't agree with you more, Mo! I had the same reaction upon opening my morning newspaper only to be greeted by a pic of Cho holding a gun to his head, with a headline reading, 'Killer Rants'.
I think the public would be better served concentrating on the lives of the tragic victims. Sadly, Cho's family is among that number.
Thanks for your intelligent insight.
peggz at 10:53AM on Apr 19th 2007