Insensitivity in reporting crimes

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Do you feel that media is ever insensitive with reporting crime?

I was inspired by a comment on the Facebook profile of the news show Prime News on HLN concerning the suicide of Tyler Clementi after video of him having sex was streamed over the Internet.

very tragic story..but once PrimeNews has reported it once or twice that is enough,,,to repeat it over and over and over and over, is slapping the family in the face with it,,,stop the over exposure of these stories

So in other words do you think the media should avoid reporting certain crimes too much out of respect for victims and their families who are likely going to be further traumatized? Do you feel that certain stories are over exposed? Is the media too concerned with reporting the story with little regard towards how the people behind the story feel about it being reported and their privacy?

[Amnesiac]

I do believe, out of generosity, that the media shouldn't report on stories if the victim's family requests that they don't.

It shouldn't be illegal or anything, though, that's just a waste of a law.

[Ender]

I agree with Justin. Also, the news should me 100% sure they have facts....

[Mzor203]

The way I see it, it's just another deterrent for people planning to do something stupid. Call me cruel, but I think it's good that people in a small town like mine would be either shunned, laughed at, or looked down upon since it's a small area where everyone knows a lot of people, and it's nice to have that for people who do stuff.

The kind of crime you're outlining though? Sometimes I'd say the media goes too far. But that's the nature of the beast, especially as once you try to control exactly what is acceptable you get into morally ambiguous

[ShyGuyInChicago]

I do believe, out of generosity, that the media shouldn't report on stories if the victim's family requests that they don't.

It shouldn't be illegal or anything, though, that's just a waste of a law.

I agree, since there is freedom of the press. Incidentally, while many newspapers and news shows do not identify victims of sex crimes it is voluntary, court rulings have found that forcing such outlets to not identify victims is unconstitutional.

[Sage]

I have no problem with the media insensitively reporting unpleasant events and crimes because I'm a human being and I get off on hearing about the drama and misery of others (and so does everyone else, they just don't like to admit it).

[The Joker]

^Which is how the media works. People WANT to be in fear. So they watch/buy the thing that gives them fear.