Monday, April 8, 2013

Should Journalism Outlets Show The Gruesome Injury?

Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware suffered a severe broken leg last week during a game against Duke in the NCAA tournament. The video and images are fairly gruesome.

Should news outlets show the video or run the images?

21 comments:

Shannon Rosiak said...

Personally I think it is rude to Kevin Ware, his family and his teammates to replay what happened. Also, I have found that people like to share the up close picture of his injury on social media sites giving the rest of us no choice in seeing it or not when scrolling through our Facebook news feeds. The picture and video should be banned, at least for the time being.

Carly Van Houten said...

I personally feel it is disrespectful to Kevin Ware and his loved ones being they do not want to re live the situation. Im sure Ware, his family and friends will remember that moment forever and does not to be reminded by social media. They should be removed but as everyone knows once media have the images and videos out their there really is no way to get rid of it forever.

Lina Je said...

If the media had to worry about images being disrespectful to the family involved, then images of the Newton shootings, Clinton's sex scandal, or Princess Diana's wrecked car all should never have been shown. Those are all things that the families involved never want to relive. Although I am not in favor of showing such personal details, news is news and journalists are doing their job. I feel that it is acceptable for the video to be shown but should be added with a graphic image warning.

Chantell said...

Unfortunately the media knows that viewers/fans want to know EXACTLY what happened to Kevin. The only way to satisfy the "need to know" is to show the images/videos through news outlets. I do believe it is unfair to make Kevin and his family relive the injury over and over. However, in today's society, the media is infatuated with documenting everything and letting its longevity live out online.

Jasmine Bostick said...

It's impossible for anything to not be put on TV or replayed just due to the climate we live in today. If it wasn't the news, it would've been on someone's camera phone. Think about how the Steubenville, Ohio case literally came to be because of social media. Nothing will ever be sacred again because every moment is captured.

It's unfortunate because I'm sure Kevin doesn't want to relive that moment, and my stomach dropped watching that, but c'est la vie. However, there should definitely be a disclaimer that goes along with that for any future showings.

Brittany Boston said...

We live in a fast-paced world where everyone wants to be "in the know". Even if cable networks blocked the gruesome scene, it would have been all over gossip sites and Youtube. Personally, I think it was a bit much and not pleasing to the eyes. But, myself and many other learned about leg injuries and other athletes are now aware of what can happen during a basketball game. However, this situation became positive with all of the love and support Ware received from th nation.

Bryant Harris Jr. said...

I was watching this game and had fortunately stepped out of the room as the injury to Kevin Ware happened. I did not know what exactly happened until they showed MULTIPLE replays of the event. It was already bad enough that he broke his leg in front of thousands in attendance and millions on television, but to show the break repeatedly was totally uncalled for. Tragedies are sensationalized on TV and in the news nowadays because video can be more powerful than words or printed sources. With a variety of ways we can record events like this, it is not surprising that this is shown over and over again in multiple media outlets. For some viewers watching, this type of video can make them physically ill. Also, children should not be exposed to such a horrific injury shown on TV. I think that this event was newsworthy and should be talked about, but with respect to Kevin Ware and his family, the video should not have been sensationalized like it was on the news.

Suchi Parikh said...

I think it's extremely disrespectful to show the video, no athlete wants there injury to be shown live on the television or on the internet! News channels would show anything just for a few dollars which really does anger me. Also, I'm sure this was a major injury for Kevin so his family and himself would not want to relive this moment again. Images, I feel aren't that bad as long as an actual image of the injury isn't posted!

Kyle Solimeo said...

I think that it is unnecessary to show the actual video of the injury. It has been covered so widely that most people would know about how severe the injury is without actually showing it. I think that it is even worse to see still images, especially ones that show the exposed shin bone like the ones that have surfaced on social media in the following week. I think that this does pose an interesting question though because sports media and highlights rely on certain types of moments that change games. Often sports shows highlight hits in the NFL or NHL where players suffer broken bones, receive concussions and sometimes even lay motionless for a period of time. In boxing and mixed martial arts it is not uncommon to see instances shown where someone receives a blow that results in broken jaws and gruesome cuts. Is it ok to show these types of clips? Or should the limit just be put on images that make stomachs turn upside down?

Austin Sgro said...

I was watching this game as the injury happened and unfortunately saw the whole thing. It was right after dinner and I thought I was going to vomit. As the replays started to role we had to change the channel for a little this way we didn't have to watch the video again. I don't believe that the video should have been shown multiple times. I feel bad for Kevin Ware as it is but now I feel even worse that people can re watch his injury countless times.

Deirdre Moore said...

I think its only okay if the person who was involved gives their okay...the press should have asked for permission to use the footage and pics.

Ciara Murphy said...

As a public figure you almost give up privacy rights. Although I feel as if it is important for journalists to be respectful, especially when someone is hurt, the image is fair game. Pictures, video and audio are being such a huge part of media that when possible such outlets must be utilized in order to keep up. The game was a public event in that it was being broadcasted for the public thus what ever happened during the game is fair to use in reports and that includes images and videos of any injury, no matter how gruesome.

Benjamin Curran said...

I tend to agree with Ciara. With that being said, I think if the media wants the right to cover and publicize this kind of event, someone should be paying the players. It only seems fair.

John Lolley said...

I agree 100% with Ciara. With Kevin Ware being a public figure this is something that comes with apart of playing college basketball. Although the images and videos are pretty graphic but those journalist are just doing their job in my opinion.

Unknown said...

I definitely agree with everyone saying this is both disrespectful and not okay to air on broadcast news. Not just because kids will see it. If the media continues to show graphic images, it might get to the point where it gets worse and worse. We are already seeing how loose the FCC is getting by allowing certain curse words. Hopefully there will still be no nudity on network TV by the time I have kids...

Julian Gross said...

In response to Deirdre. News outlets should run the image and show the videos because it shows depth to the incident. I'm sure there is a press clause that allows images of him to be produced. Also, he belongs to Louisville so its fair game to be used.

Marnice Davis said...

Yes. Although gruesome, the injury should be covered. When you choose a career like professional sports you must expect to be reported on through the good, bad and ugly. This was an ugly circumstance, however it was relevant and captured the awareness of many viewers.

Unknown said...

If your journalist you have to write about a story if you like it or not. As a journalist you have to go with the punches . If anything happen in the world that's news worthy you have to write bout it Rather its hurtful or even happy it's your job to write the best story you can.

Unknown said...

I think that while the injury is gruesome, it is not necessarily a bad thing to show the injury on video. The only problem I would have is if they kept replaying the video over and over. But video and pictures are two different things, and if news outlets want to run either, at the end of the day they have the right to run whatever they see fit. Hey, as a consumer you can still choose what to view and what not to view.

Ashlee Mericle said...

Uh, that video was absolutely disgusting. I was watching the Louisville game in real-time with my 5-year-old nephew and he started crying. A 5-year-old or any young kid, shouldn't see the gruesomeness in severe injuries. Certain injuries will scare kids because they don't understand how such a thing could happen.

I don't think injuries like such should be shown on TV. For example. When shows such as Law & Order, Ridiculousness, and other crime dramas and video-based shows are on air, there is always a warning before the program begins. If they are going to show the images and videos, they should have a warning label as well.

Don McDermott said...

I don't think they should have run this video. Journalists must have a a conscience, as Kovach and Rosenstiel say. We can't show things like that. And this whole thing about having the announcers say, "The following video is graphic in nature" does not help little kids who don't know that means "turn off the TV." And what if someone tunes into the channel while their in the middle of showing it? That line doesn't do much.
Also, think about Ware. Do you think he wants that video to exist for ever on the Internet? Maybe the media should have thought of that?