A little over a week ago, the breaking news was simply terrifying, as we learned a reporter, cameraman, and their guest were shot on live TV.  What we learned immediately after was even worse. It's taken me a while to comment on this tragedy, as I'm honestly distraught by what happen, and what it could mean for the future, while I also question the dangers my own industry creates in times like these.  It's not a far stretch to say that while we do our best to remember and honor the victims Alison Parker and Adam Ward, we unintentionally glorify the shooter.  We give him way too much attention, from naming him, to his back story to all the rest of everything that was brought to attention belonging to him that day.  He doesn't deserve that attention. And that's what terrifies me.

When tragedies like this hit, we spend too much time on the suspect, where any mention beyond saying "the suspect" or "the shooter" is too much, ESPECIALLY when we already know the identity. Granted, for public safety, the surrounding community needs to see a picture, maybe hear a name, to at least be aware and on the lookout.  But beyond that, why give this person any notoriety?

Now I know we've been doing this for decades. Look at how many assassin/serial killer names you know, going all the way back through history.  But to me, there comes a point, especially today, when an unstable person might happen to enjoy the notoriety, and that becomes their motive, aka "the copycat".  Take for instance all the theater shootings.

What's worse in this situation specifically, is the reporting on the shooters social media usage.  Well it may not have been shown on TV, it was discussed, leaving the over curious public scouring for "that which we can not have."  To me, why even report that in the first place? Admittedly, I was guilty of doing just that, without thinking. And yes, now I'm being intentionally vague for a reason.  What worries me the most is how THIS specifically might sit with someone who might not be stable.

As a "reporter" of sorts who does things live, I don't want to have to feel scared every time I'm out covering a story, and can only feel for my friends in TV now. It's not like the story was even in a dangerous area. I was talking with a friend, a former TV reporter, who in his career had to be in dangerous areas, at night none the less, and was worried of situations then.  What about now, where it could happen even in the middle of the morning, in a "very safe", normal, everyday location?  It terrifies me honestly.

Now I get this guy apparently was a disgruntled ex-employee, and the warning signs were apparently there.  But I think to assume this is an isolated situation would be to be very naive.  People love to get themselves in the spotlight, and on-camera.  Just look at all those who love to innocently pop-up in live reports, and all the bloopers we get from it.  This could almost considered a "non-innocent" pop-up... and I only worry what could come from it.

I'm not saying I'm going to live a life in fear, but as a journalist of sorts, it certainly crosses my mind, and makes me think more about how we SHOULD handle things like this, and what we should and shouldn't discuss.  I get everyone using this as an issue to feed the "gun-control" conversation, but lives were lost.  Let's not start arguments over that, but rather think of better ways to report the tragedy, while honoring the lost.  To me, that's the real conversation we should be having.

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