Fox Broadcasts Suicide, Media At Odds Over Handling Of Footage In The Aftermath
The headline “Fox broadcasts suicide” has been pinging around the web all afternoon, prompting a question in the blogosphere and among journalists as to whether or not the decision by several other outlets to post the upsetting live feed of the man taking his life after a chase was a newsworthy event or just disaster rubbernecking.
While Fox did indeed broadcast a live suicide today, it was clearly an inadvertent event and one that anchor at-the-time Shepard Smith attempted to prevent. Given the nature of the live news format that allowed Fox to inadvertently broadcast a suicide as it happened, these sorts of events will occur from time to time — but in the YouTube era, what happens next is a matter of ethical dispute for many in the media.
BuzzFeed immediately uploaded the “Fox broadcasts suicide” footage to YouTube, where the clip racked up scores of hits and many viewed the man’s death. Other outlets uploaded the moving clip of Smith apologizing in a heartfelt manner for the oversight, saying that the airing of such material won’t happen again “on my watch” and telling viewers that delays normally prevent such footage from airing.
Slate obtained a statement from BuzzFeed on Fox’s broadcast of the suicide and their subsequent decision to disseminate the footage across the web, and the site defended their decision to upload the clip. And whether or not you agree on the outcome, BuzzFeed does have a point that sites that report news are charged with accurately reporting, despite the fact that content may be upsetting to some viewers or readers:
“Making an editorial decision on how to cover a sensitive, tragic news event like this is never an easy one. But it is, indeed, a news event and we are a news organization. We posted both an edited version and the full version and we respect our readers’ judgment.”
Were you exposed to the “Fox broadcasts suicide” clip today, either live or on the web?
Tags : carjacker shoots himself, carjacker suicide, Fox broadcasts suicide, Fox broadcasts suicide buzzfeed, Fox broadcasts suicide live, Fox broadcasts suicide shepard smith, Fox broadcasts suicide youtube, fox news, Phoenix car chase, Phoenix carjacker, Shepard Smith
Posted: September 28, 2012
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Sep 29, 2012
A black eye for the industry, even if it did happen to the louse's at Fox News. But then again, why is a random car chase a news worthy event in the first place? It speaks to sensationalism and the downside of the 24-hour news cycle.
Sep 29, 2012
as a mother that has lost her son, by taking his own life, no one should ever see this. let alone on live tv or internet. in respect you stop the cameras and do not show it, so it cannot be shown on youtube, or other media.
Sep 29, 2012
Sensationalism is the stock and trade of Fox.
Sep 29, 2012
Buck-up! Welcome to real life.
Sep 29, 2012
Buck-up! Welcome to real life.
Sep 29, 2012
My little brother saw a suicide on live tv after a chase years ago. I thought they had put a delay on live feeds after that or is that only here in California?
Sep 29, 2012
Forgive me, Mrs. Caldwell, but, as a man who waits almost paranoidly (that even a word?) for news that his closest friend, a girl and the most important person in his life, has taken her own life, news that may never come, because of the friends that have been there for her when she let them, I have but this to say.
*spreads his arms wide* Welcome to the real world, Michelle. Things like this happen, and the sooner one copes with the fact that this happened, the better all will be.
Sep 29, 2012
I watched it live and was overcome by emotion. My heart and prayers go out to this man and to his family, friends and all who knew him.
Sep 29, 2012
well all you FOX NEWS LOVERS.think they have gone to far yet?
Sep 29, 2012
a NEWS ORGANIZATION? REALLY? and here the rest of the world thought you where only on to get the Republicans elected……….gee……..who knew?
Sep 29, 2012
Sad reality! sucks the man thought his life was so bad that he had to end it! RIP now!
Sep 29, 2012
society has become too sheltered…i do feel sad for the persons family etc, but not the person. and if you don't like what fox news is broadcasting, change the channel to cnn or msnbc and pretend everything in the world is republicans or tea party members fault, the world is peaceful and obama will save us all.
Sep 29, 2012
Too bad. at least we don't have to waste more tax dollars prosecuting this lowlife. It would be more exciting if Matthews, Maddow, O Donnell and Schultz would all drink arsenic laced kool aide on MSNBC and make the world a better place.
Sep 29, 2012
Its called reality people, I do not accept your appology, no need for one.
Sep 29, 2012
That perhaps is one of the most asinine things someone could say. Ya because my kids need to be seeing something like that, but it is okay because its the real world. wow perspective, you should grasp it
Sep 29, 2012
Why is it so shocking to you people when movies show this all the time. We have seen a President get his brains blown out and splattered all over his wife have you forgot about that it happened in 1963… I, watched this yesterday and it was just another day. Thank God he did not hurt anyone in his act of stupidity. What a coward…
Sep 29, 2012
And what did you feel for the police he shot at and the people on the freeway that he was speeding by and could have lost control of the car and wiped out innocent people. What about the couple he took the car from at gun point. Pray for something worth praying for…
Sep 29, 2012
Car chases are always news since the OJ chase. Millions watched OJ expecting a suicide on TV.
Sep 29, 2012
Car chases are always news since the OJ chase. Millions watched OJ expecting a suicide on TV.
Sep 29, 2012
Car chases are always news since the OJ chase. Millions watched OJ expecting a suicide on TV.
Sep 29, 2012
that was not political it was ashame, anyone can have their own opinion of the world but WHY is this NEWS….ONE NATION UNDER GOD
Sep 29, 2012
Prayers are for sinners and saints…..Read your Bible
Sep 29, 2012
Any dumbass moron who thinks we need 4 more years of dumboma is to fu*king stupid to argue with…
Sep 29, 2012
some people are just beneth me…..do you eat with that mouth….Okay
Sep 29, 2012
reported
Sep 30, 2012
idiot
Sep 30, 2012
idiot
Sep 30, 2012
Sandra Lee McMahon They are all worth praying for,everyone has a soul.
Sep 30, 2012
In the clip, it appears that not only did Smith try to stop it, but he seemed very upset as a person that it happened during a segment he was hosting.
Sep 30, 2012
fishinbuddy56 Too*
Sep 30, 2012
This was no accident. This is SOP for Murdoch.
Sep 30, 2012
It doesn't matter if it's suicide or someone shot by police assisted suicide. Death is rarely shown on TV or the internet, and when they do, people act like it's a major crime. That's disgusting! The world is being turned into a bunch of Ostriches and God forbid the day you ever have to encounter the real thing if the world falls a part. I certainly don't want people around me who have been sheltered all their life if or when it does.
Sep 30, 2012
Sorry about your son, Michelle.
I agree for the family's sake something like this should be treated delicately. My wife committed suicide too, something I thought would never happen to me. Now that it has I won't rule out the probability it could happen again. I shared this video and discussed it with all my kids because I believe everyone should know this sort of thing doesn't just happen in Hollywood.
Oct 1, 2012
Now if Shep would apologize for the trash Fox is throwing at people 24/7, I'd be happy. Cmon Shep, the place is a heaping stinky sewer.
Oct 1, 2012
well said!!!!