Colorado Media Newsroom
November 26th, 2012, 09:32 AM
From the Denver Post:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/files/2012/11/pit-bull.jpg (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2012/11/26/video-dog-shooting-draws-wrath/11763/pit-bull/)CBS
“I was horrified this evening by a clip on CBS 4 in Denver at 10 that showed a dog being shot,” a reader emailed. “This was unbelievably cruel and insensitive to the dog’s owner as well as to anyone who cares about animals. Not to mention, it shows horrific news judgment. What on earth was possibly gained by showing an animal suffering and writhing in pain on the news?”
The video, shot by Commerce City neighbor Ken Collins (http://www.coloradomedia.net/forums/www.google.com/url?sa=t#038;rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdenver.cbslocal.com%2F2012%2F11%2 F26%2Fneighbor-upset-after-police-shoot-pit-bull%2F&ei=xJOzUIS0F4SVyAHlgIHoBQ&usg=AFQjCNFomUmcRyHHMIZtMFq23uOVRRestQ), showed two police officers and an animal control officer surrounding a 3 1/2-year-old pit bull. After attempting to control it using a taser and a neck harness, an officer fired once and then, with the dog secured, the officer shot four more rounds, killing the dog.
CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland explained that, “We aired a segment of that home video in our newscasts. Due to the graphic nature, we decided to freeze the video before the dog was shot multiple times, as the audio of the gunfire continued. It appears other stations handled the video in a similar manner, freezing or blurring the video.” (KDVR posted the video with a warning. (http://kdvr.com/2012/11/25/officers-shoot-kill-pit-bull-in-commerce-city/)) KUSA has the video on its website. (http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/301382/222/Home-video-shows-police-killing-dog--) He maintains the video was central to telling the story of an investigation into whether police officers acted appropriately.
Was even the edited video appropriate for broadcast? Does the fact that other stations did it excuse this judgment call? I was on a plane and didn’t see it, but it’s difficult to imagine what journalistic purpose was served. Comments?
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dp-entertainment-tv-blogs-ostrow/~4/Zxr4hVrhyt0
More... (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2012/11/26/video-dog-shooting-draws-wrath/11763/)
http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/files/2012/11/pit-bull.jpg (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2012/11/26/video-dog-shooting-draws-wrath/11763/pit-bull/)CBS
“I was horrified this evening by a clip on CBS 4 in Denver at 10 that showed a dog being shot,” a reader emailed. “This was unbelievably cruel and insensitive to the dog’s owner as well as to anyone who cares about animals. Not to mention, it shows horrific news judgment. What on earth was possibly gained by showing an animal suffering and writhing in pain on the news?”
The video, shot by Commerce City neighbor Ken Collins (http://www.coloradomedia.net/forums/www.google.com/url?sa=t#038;rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDgQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdenver.cbslocal.com%2F2012%2F11%2 F26%2Fneighbor-upset-after-police-shoot-pit-bull%2F&ei=xJOzUIS0F4SVyAHlgIHoBQ&usg=AFQjCNFomUmcRyHHMIZtMFq23uOVRRestQ), showed two police officers and an animal control officer surrounding a 3 1/2-year-old pit bull. After attempting to control it using a taser and a neck harness, an officer fired once and then, with the dog secured, the officer shot four more rounds, killing the dog.
CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland explained that, “We aired a segment of that home video in our newscasts. Due to the graphic nature, we decided to freeze the video before the dog was shot multiple times, as the audio of the gunfire continued. It appears other stations handled the video in a similar manner, freezing or blurring the video.” (KDVR posted the video with a warning. (http://kdvr.com/2012/11/25/officers-shoot-kill-pit-bull-in-commerce-city/)) KUSA has the video on its website. (http://www.9news.com/news/local/article/301382/222/Home-video-shows-police-killing-dog--) He maintains the video was central to telling the story of an investigation into whether police officers acted appropriately.
Was even the edited video appropriate for broadcast? Does the fact that other stations did it excuse this judgment call? I was on a plane and didn’t see it, but it’s difficult to imagine what journalistic purpose was served. Comments?
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/dp-entertainment-tv-blogs-ostrow/~4/Zxr4hVrhyt0
More... (http://blogs.denverpost.com/ostrow/2012/11/26/video-dog-shooting-draws-wrath/11763/)