Sensationalize the Good

Early July 20, James Egan Holmes allegedly barged into a midnight showing of “The Dark Knight Rises” and proceeded to kill 12 moviegoers while injuring 70 others in one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history.  When an event of this magnitude happens, it is no wonder that it receives substantial coverage in the media, with countless hours of time spent covering the tragedy.  In the coverage, we heard about the victims and the extensive equipment the assailant used in the attack.  We learned of the elaborate planning that Holmes allegedly undertook in the attack, and how he booby-trapped his apartment in an attempt to create a second catastrophe.

One of the most disturbing aspects of the news coverage was the time the media spent trying to analyze why Holmes would perform such a despicable act.  The fact that the media spends so much time on a terrible tragedy like this and more so on bringing attention to Holmes in my opinion only encourages like-minded individuals to follow his lead.  Ultimately, it is up to us to help steer our media in the right direction by letting them know that sensationalizing these terrible acts only perpetuates this form of tragedy.  In its place, let’s sensationalize the good and heroic.