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.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 74)
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thubwhumsh at 10:18AM on Jan 24th 2009
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. It looks as if NBC has made another bad call
chuck at 10:33AM on Apr 19th 2007
7. 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
8. It is so sad that we still live in a world where violence is the only means of taking care of our problems. I was horrified to see the news, unable to believe the video that he had recorded moments before the shooting. I commend the teacher and student for their bravery in choosing to risk and sadly give their own life to save others. This type of vilence has to END, or we will all succumb to hands of evil...God Bless the victims, survivors and families who have lost loved ones.. You are in my prayers here in St.Louis, I have shed my tears with you. The light will once shine again, maybe not as bright but God will lead the way....
kim valenzuela at 11:39AM on Apr 19th 2007
9. I THINK THAT NBC PRESIDENT STEVE CAPUS SHOULD BE FIRED! THE TODAY SHOW WAS GOING TO AIR AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PARENTS OF ONE OF THE VIRGINIA TECH VICTIMS, THE PARENTS TOLD NBC THAT IF THEY AIRED THE VIDEO OF CHO THEY WOULD DECLINE THE INTERVIEW. WELL WE ALL SEEN WHAT THEIR CHOICE WAS, ALL IN THE NAME OF RATINGS. THIS WAS A VERY BAD CHOICE. I WILL NO LONGER WATCH ANY NBC PROGRAMING AND URGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.I WOULD HAVE MUCH RATHER LISTENED TO THE PARENTS THAN TO HEAR HIS BABBLE ABOUT WHY HE DID IT. SEEMS NBC HAS LOST ITS VISION OF GOOD REPORTING. NBC, FIRE STEVE CAPUS!!!!!!
RICK at 8:54PM on Apr 19th 2007
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. I think the man comes off as an idiot and pathetic. He rambles and obviously had never had an original thought, or a true philosophy of his own. Showing this loser for what he was, a deluded fool who should have been either heavily medicated, or locked up, helps to keep him from becoming a mythical hero to other losers. His inarticulate b.s. relegates him to the realm of the pathetic. If this is the "face of Evil," then Evil is a joke and can be beaten with a little effort.
Larry at 2:15PM on Apr 19th 2007
14. 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
15. I am in full agreement. The news media has done many wrongful things in this sad occurrance. There was Heraldo spending at least one sleepless night following up on this incident, as if it was a safety threat to all of us, when the killer was dead and the incident was over. Talk about trying to make a name for yourself from the tragedy and grief of others!
Then there were the many news shows talking about the pending threat at Virginia Tech for the last 2 days. What pending threat???? The incident was over and the families needed private time...but no..the media needed ratings!
Then there were the hundreds of students and "acquaintances" who were interviewed on all networks and cable. Most didn't even know this boy. Most just wanted their 15 minutes of fame. They had no answers. When asked questions like "How well did you know Cho?" They answered with statements like, "Well, I didn't really know him, but I was in one of his classes once. He was quiet. He never talked." Ugh! Horrible!
The Media has decided they would try and convict this man since he would never go to court. They are all there in Virginia 4 days later, getting their pound of flesh and hedging for viewership! Nancy Grace, Heraldo, Greta, O'Reily, Glenn Beck and many, many others are fighting for the higeest Nielsons from this sad tragedy. Give me a break! There was no reason for these "celebrity" hosts to jump a plane to Virginia! None. Every evening news show continue to show this horrible story and make Cho famous, giving him his dream of glory by using their full hour shows to cover nothing but HIM. Congratulations, fools! You have given this little selfish brat just what he wanted. You are stupid puppets! I hope your moments of fame were worth the pain it causes as these families watch this "hero" and his pictures over and over on their children's hospital TV screens.
I also want to say that this media play of Cho is most painful to two innocent people who had NOTHING to do with this. They are two people who lost a son, who are feeling gulity for the deaths of the other 33 youth and adults, and who have grief greater than of these celebrities can imagine...Cho's parents. How wreckless to flash their son's photo over and over to make the ratings, not considering their pain and anguish over what has happened! I'd bet the media is camped outside their residence, waiting their chance to pounce. Come on, give these people a break! They have suffered most of all. They came to America for the promise of a bright future, and look where their selfish, brat son has put them. They don't need to see this over and over. Let it go. It is done. Show the memorials for those who were lost, but get Cho off my TV!
And by the way did you notice that no one cares this week whether Anna Nicole's baby's custody goes to her mother or Larry Burkhead? Hum...WAKE UP AMERICA! Get a brain! Think for yourself! The media is running our lives!
Karen Dove at 12:10PM on Apr 19th 2007