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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Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 74)
46. TV loves this sort of thing, disgustingly so. It makes good TV. I can picture them sitting around the production meeting table, "pump up the hero side of this story, or pump up the losses!" How many times will they keep re-running the same video, comments this week? It's a feeding frenzy by the netowrks to pay the bills on the back of a tragedy.
B.B. at 11:42AM on Apr 19th 2007
47. This was an irresponsible decision on the part of NBC who served Cho's and NBC's interests and not the interests of the viewers. NBC was thinking only of the exclusive ownership they believed to have of this pathetic, sick boy's personal publicity campaign and how it might increase its viewer ratings.
Aside from the added insult to the injury suffered by his parents and the parents and friends of his victims, this act on the part of NBC sends a message to other Cho wannabees that they too could have their day of infamy.
NBC has fallen to the level of a television "rag" when it had the choice to responsibly avoid airing the material. They could have stated that there was nothing valuable in the package that wasn't already discussed in newspapers about his writings at school. And they could have stated they didn't want to serve the interests of a mass murderer seeking notoriety.
ther hear the details of say the professor who barricaded the door with his body,,,,giving his life to save some students.
Marcia at 11:53AM on Apr 19th 2007
48. dac #41.... IF THAT IS THE CASE WHY DID CHO REFER TO THE COLUMBINE KILLERS BY NAME? YOU MUST NOT BE AS NEWS EDUCATED AS YOU CLAIM TO BE. DO YOU KNOW OBI? HE KNOWS EVERYTHING TOO.
RICK at 11:46AM on Apr 19th 2007
49. We are doing exactlly what he wanted us to do! The media is playing it and we are all listening to it! How sad! Lets focus on the victims.
nicol at 1:53PM on Apr 19th 2007
50. SARAH #41, GOOD POINT AND AMEN
RICK at 11:49AM on Apr 19th 2007
51. NO ONE SHOULD SHOW THIS VIDEO!!! The victims families are being vitimized once again.
Exactly what he wanted.
S.King at 11:50AM on Apr 19th 2007
52. first of all...we should not be labeling this "The Legend of Cho"..he is the furthest thing from a legend..he is a little cowardly boy who has nothing but angry feelings and wants to take everyone down with him. I have no sympathy for him what so ever..he plays the victim of his own life and is such a selfish bastard that he had to go ruin everyone else's...we should never acknowledge his name and only recognize the 32 of the 33 people that died that day..
Lindsey at 11:50AM on Apr 19th 2007
53. We dont need to know about this creep, can anyone name a victim of the columbine killings, I know I cant, but we all know the names of the two cowards who killed all those kids. I remember when idiots used to run out of the field at baseball and football games, get their 5 minutes of fame, and annoy the hell out of everyone, then the media stopped showing these fools, they still run out now and then, but I stopped a lot of these nit wits. I see no reason to know all about this creep at Virginia Tech, law enforcement needs to know, and if a private citizen wants to get all the sick info they should be allowed, but dont put it on the news, ignore this creep and the copy cats, dont give them a platform, let his name never me mentioned in american press. Lets remember the good people who died that day, not their killer, what was his name?
william sadler at 11:53AM on Apr 19th 2007
54. Every commercial break I was assaulted by his video and this is giving him the fame he wanted. Other mentally and emotionally ill, demented people will see this and think this is how they can get fame too. If I want to see the video, I'll watch the news or look for it online. Quit pushing it at us constantly!
jkoe at 12:55PM on Apr 19th 2007
55. ENOUGH NOW. ONE NEWSCAST WAS ENOUGH. WHEN IT TAKES EVERY NETWORK, TO SENSATIONLIZE THIS, IT HAS SERVED THE PURPOSE OF THE MURDERER. FAMILIES CAN MOURN AND SHOULD, IN PRIVATE. NEWS BROADCASTS ONLY CARE ABOUT RATINGS. WONDER HOW MANY PROGRAMS WILL BE DONE ON OPRAH. ANYONE NOTICE HOW MANY WERE KILLED IN IRAQ ON THE SAME DAY?
JACKIE at 11:59AM on Apr 19th 2007
56. Hmmm..didnt they (media) stop showing the 911 footage because it was too "disturbing"....but they just can't show enough of this guy? Look up "Emo Kid".
Sandie at 11:59AM on Apr 19th 2007
57. The only good thing that came from all this is that I am reminded why I rarely turn on the TV for news. I prefer to just read the news on the web and then go on with my day. I hope many will turn off NBC.
Mary at 11:59AM on Apr 19th 2007
58. Let the college students be the perpetuated heros.
Let the disgrace of injustice die without honoring fear and rage. One mental health patient should not be allowed to make a community or communities of more mental health patients. Directly resulting from the dread, fear and rage potential of video footage combined with the students/families own memories..
Please let the students be ,completely, the HEROS!
linda witt at 12:04PM on Apr 19th 2007
59. What if one person at virginia tech had a weapon on them, how things might have turned out differently. Why do we allow others to say who can live and who must die. The 2nd amend has nothing to do with hunters rights, its there so american citizens can protect themselves from their own goverment. Does anyone think the 4th amend is to protect us from illegal search and seizure by cuban or iranian police. I am sure there were many law enforcement officials taking classes at Virginia Tech, but because of these nutty gun free zones, their weapons were not availible when needed. We need stupidity free zones. Recently Sen Webb, Dem from virginia was found carrying a gun in Washington DC,where politicians have passed laws prohibiting anyone from owning a gun, let alone carrying one,Sen Webb said people like him need to be able to protect themselves, I guess the rest of us lesser americans dont have those rights,are lives arent as important as the Senators and his family, we should just line up and be shot down like dogs. I dont know what you think your life is worth, but I wont let some liberal take my right to self defense away, while they carry guns illeally.
william sadler at 12:03PM on Apr 19th 2007
60. Well Mr Mo. THE SAME GOOD AOL BROUGHT PUBLISHING THE PLAYS WROTE BY CHO... The media only wants attention and they will grab as much as needed. Humankind struggles to understand extreme behaviours, and the video, plays and photos by Cho hope us cope with the idea only people really sick commit such of thing. Not normal guys like us. But after reading plays, seeing videos and photos, we finally understand, sadly, Cho was just a human being. Not a monster. A twisted mind which could have been helped but instead was neglected and isolated to his won destiny. A bad feeling comes from inside all of us, to save all this innocent lives which didn't deserve to end so tragically.
But maybe, if seeing what society can do to people and in what they can tunr into, a good will come from this. Otherwise is almost inevitable only evil instead.
janine at 12:05PM on Apr 19th 2007