At dinner Thursday night, Frieda Morris, bureau chief for the NBC News team covering this awful tragedy, was comparing the arc of this story to the coverage of the Columbine High School Massacre, eight years ago Friday.
"Four days into Columbine," Frieda said, "most of us hadn't had a substantial catnap, let alone a full night's sleep; it was nonstop." All of us at the table at what was essentially a team dinner knew what Frieda was talking about; during the day -- the fourth day of so similar a story of immeasurable grief following an act of madness -- there was a sense both in the press corps and across this vast university campus that the main storylines of the Virginia Tech massacre had been identified, explored and broadcast or written.
Earlier in the day I'd run into an old friend and former colleague of mine, Rose Arce of CNN, when each of us was making a final visit to the makeshift memorials on the central Drillfield. "It feels like the story's over," Rose said, reporter-speak for that juncture in the coverage of virtually any major story when everyone in the first wave of journalists who'd rushed to the scene thinks for the first time about plans to head home. "Can that be, is the story over? Why is that?"
Part of the reason, I suggested, is that though the scale of this atrocity is off the scale -- very quickly on the first day every news organization was calling it the worst episode of its kind in the country's history -- it was nevertheless only the latest such episode. If Columbine was the nadir of the phenomenon of school shootings, it's also true that in the past decade it had happened too often in other schools, in other cities and towns. In the new-media universe of cable, the Internet and the 24-hour news cycle, the country had been through it before.
At one point Thursday, while my piece for that night's Nightly News broadcast was being edited in New York, I looked at the script for a “Dateline NBC” story I'd written eight years ago on the Columbine killers, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. Like the killer in this case, Cho Seung-Hui, Harris and Klebold were desperate paranoid loners who left behind plenty of evidence of their building psychopathic rage, and had teachers and other authority figures wondering afterward about the "warning signs" that might have and perhaps should have triggered an intervention aimed at heading off disaster. A psychiatrist had said of the two, "They were sick ... and they had the kind of sickness that unfortunately we never seem to catch, until they do something horrible."
I'd written, "'Horrible,' of course, does not come near to describing what they did. For days we've seen images of unspeakable grief -- a teacher and 14 children going to their rest instead of celebrating the richness of another spring. Who could think to author mayhem on this scale? Who could actually do it? And for what reasons that anyone can understand? Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold took with them whatever answers they might have had when they turned their guns on themselves -- a final act of cowardice and cruelty, to make the pain of grieving deeper still."
In the Virginia Tech tragedy, Cho's rambling and profane multi-media "manifesto," sent to NBC News, made his madness plain but also failed to explain the specific trigger or triggers for his April 16 explosion of violence. So, as happened in Columbine, the struggle for everyone directly affected -- and by inference for the country beyond -- has been to find the least painful route through the stages of grief. In the classic construct of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, those stages start with denial and anger, pass through bargaining and depression, and end at acceptance.
Now, it seemed to me, the awful familiarity of the school-shooting scenario-- familiar from our recent history -- had many here all but racing to get to the acceptance stage. By Friday there were handmade signs posted or distributed demanding that the media pack up and go home, to allow this community to continue grieving out of camera range. Students we spoke to looked for reasons to recite a school cheer, to reclaim a zone of safety within a "Hokie Nation" that could withstand anything, even this brutal assault.
Freshman Kristen Fields said "It's a little city within Blacksburg and we're all connected, even with 26,000 students. We all knew someone -- or knew someone who knew someone -- who was directly affected by this." Her classmate Mandy Wilmoth added with a forced smile, "It's our Hokie Nation! I mean I feel completely safe here ... and I still do, even with something like this."
Listening to the two freshmen talk, it struck me that they were understandably trying to urge their own emotions past the darkness of Monday's reality to a softer place for those same emotions to land.
Later, a senior named Lawrence O'Neil stood for long moments reading the inscriptions and messages on the Drillfield signing boards, moved under tents against the weather. One of those inscriptions read, "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift." O'Neil told us he's coping with all of it by focusing on today's gifts, including the loving thumbnail sketches memorialized on the signing boards of classmates and teachers who pursued the richness of their own dreams, just as he had. As for Cho, the killer reaching for infamy from the grave through his written and video-taped "manifesto," complete with posed photos of a would-be 'avenger,' O'Neil was contemptuous.
"I made the decision not to watch any of it, because I knew it was just some psycho rambling on about how bad his life was," he said. By doing so, O'Neil said he refused to do what the killer would have wanted him to do... to make him, the killer, the story. "It disgusts me," O'Neil said. "Screw him."
He rejoined some friends, went back to reading the inscriptions on the message board. The campus was supposed to be closed, classes canceled until next week, but there were still scores of people gathered at the several memorials on the Drillfield, even in the soft steady rain. A lot of hugging, a lot of crying. Suddenly it felt like our cameras were an intrusion; like we were an intrusion.
Time to leave.
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As officials, students and families struggle to come to terms with the tragedy at Virginia Tech, a team of MSNBC.com reporters and editors and NBC News producers and correspondents is on the scene.
'On the scene' blog retired
PLEASE GO HOME!!!
The media frenzy, and in particular, the rush to immediately analyze before all data is known (could the university have acted differently??? very easy to say with full knowledge of what happened versus what was actually known during that horrible nightmare) is only serving to rub salt in fresh wounds
Showing the "multi-media mental-vomit manifesto" was the final straw of media irresponsibility
The entire community has pulled together to mourn and protect itself - with unbelievable stories of heroism, self-sacrifice, and love . . . the media could have had the feel-good story of the century . . . but they collectively drug the story to the lowest level, constantly baiting interviewees, trying to put their spin on the story
No longer content to report on the news, the neo-media now feels compelled to create it . . . a great example - a push to oust the University President in spite of overwhelming support from the students, faculty, and alumni
So once again . . . please, please, please go home . . . you are only making this worse . . . for the love of God, show some human decency and go home
John Doyle (Sent Apr 20, 2007 4:51:01 PM)
The newsagency's in my country are more selective in airing disturbing images, i gess its american society who formed the media you have right now. i do feel sorry for the victims and evryone in america right now...
S.Y. Wim from the netherlands
wim , the netherlands (Sent Apr 20, 2007 5:02:25 PM)
I just wanted to say that the news affiliates have certainly overstayed their welcome at Virginia Tech. The news stations reported the story, which is fine, that's their job. But to remain on campus for days afterward and pull everybody and their brother in front of the camera to draw emotion and heartache out of them is absolutely ridiculous. In addition, showing the video of a confirmed loser who took so many lives is an insult to the victims, reminding the world of the terror they went through. Don't give that sick human being any recognition. The individuals at Virginia Tech has suffered enough. Let them grieve amongst themselves and their families. If I was associated with VT the last thing I would want is a reporter shoving a microphone in my face and saying "How do you feel"?
You all reported the story, now go home.
Christopher Jenkins, Plains Township, Pennsylvania (Sent Apr 20, 2007 5:22:25 PM)
ok...so now there is a gun man held up at the Johnson Space Center in Texas (MSNBC.com). Is he looking for his one week of fame?
Lynn Deveine (Sent Apr 20, 2007 5:29:13 PM)
I concur with Chris. I believe NBC has done the right thing and report the facts as they come in. I am glad they showed what they did and then still respect us by not showing it over and over. I want to understand what could push someone to commit a heinous crime as Cho did. You still had the choice to turn off the TV; you had the choice to not come to the website and read the article.
Chava, Sacramento, CA (Sent Apr 20, 2007 5:29:30 PM)
I feel horrible for Hokie Nation and everyone that was affected by this tragedy, or any tragedy for that matter. But I also believe that the media has a responsibility to report the facts. While it can be overkill at times, we need to know the facts and try to understand how to prevent these things. The families and friend of victims have been emotionally and eloquently telling their stories of their lost loved ones over my television for days. I need to hear their stories. I want to mourn with them. But, I also have to see the other side - the story of the madman and how he came to be. That is how we can begin to fix the issues - gun control, mental health, security – and hopefully bring a tad bit of good from the loss of these precious lives.
Stay strong, Hokies.
Jenny, TN (Sent Apr 20, 2007 5:51:16 PM)
I think I speak for myself and many other students when I say you're exactly right. We all understand the original need for the media presence--the news needed to get out.
I think this should be a learning experience for us and the media. There is a story to report, to keep the world informed. But when the facts are complete and the story told, it's time to let a community in mourning come together and heal on its own.
The constant presence of cameras and reporters has worn thin in Blacksburg. It is indeed time to leave.
In our sprint toward acceptance, we have all latched onto the phrase "We are Virginia Tech." When students return to campus this weekend, they want to return to Virginia Tech. They want to return to their homes away from home. They do not want to return to the Virginia Tech Massacre and its media frenzy.
The greatest service the media can do now, is to quietly pack up and let Blacksburg return to "normal..."
Our respect is worth more than our story, and departing would earn you just that.
Paul Marks, Blacksburg, VA (Sent Apr 20, 2007 7:46:15 PM)
I am truly sorry for the loss of life and people who were severly wounded, physically and emotionally at VT on Monday. While I do not condone the actions or behavior of Mr. Coh, I would encourage parents with children of all ages to teach tolerance and peace of people who may be different or "weird". Mr. Cho was evidently picked on and pushed around while still a child in formative years; must have had a brutal effect on his psyche. Again, I do not condone or excuse his behavior, I am only looking for a better way to prevent future events such as this from happening by looking within ourselves and what we project onto our children.(how many times has your child heard a "fat" joke or "ugly person" joke from you-be honest).I believe he was troubled regardless, some people just are from birth and nothing you do prevents their unhappiness. But I wonder, somehow at some time, while still he was still a young child was there a turning point that we as a society could have helped him by accepting him and embracing him. I try to teach my own children to love others and accept them for who they are, as I believe the end result of who they turn out to be is very strongly linked to what we show them. My heart goes out to his family, as I'm sure they were as unprepared for this as everyone else. I hope that my tolerance message is what people take from my post here, not that I excuse or make excuses for horrific behavior and acts of violence. I just think we should begin to look at our home lives in the beginning and help shape the type of people we want to have around us. Also, please keep us in your prayers as our NASA community deals with our loss from the shootings today...
Andrea, Houston, TX (Sent Apr 20, 2007 11:11:37 PM)
I am so impressed at these wonderful young people and administration of VT for the comments made toward the media. VT was quick to offer solace to all (with a special service the very next day!) with hope for the future. I too hate the media trying to get the story and saying so much about the gunman only to make him a hero when the true heroes are the students and professors of VT. I made a conscious choice only to focus the stories of heroism of the victims and how they lived their lives. That is where we can move forward with hope and celebrate these wonderful lives that were tragically lost. It is probably harder to get that angle on a story so media takes the easy way out and just show blood and the mentally ill human being who is sick and in need to medical attention.
I think we as Americans should stand strong in our outrage of the media focusing on a killer when the lives of the victims are so important. America needs to remember the Amish way of forgiveness and in that forgiveness find hope and healing. What are we doing for the family of this young killer? His family is not responsible for his actions as all parents come to know the disappointments that can happen with our children. There was media looking for someone to blame and you cannot blame anyone when you have such a mentally ill human being.
We don't want prayer in our schools but when a tragedy occurs we find prayer is helpful how ironic!!! It is a day for Americans to demand a better morality in the media and focus more on hope and love of each other than making these horrendous acts of violence that are seen in the media constantly something our children get so get bored and numb watching violent media and it must increase more and more before they are impressed. What purpose has been achieved by showing the blood and gore? Telling stories of these vital and brilliant young people and others that lost their lives is more important to inspire young Americans to inspire more to attend college and go for their dreams than to focus on a mentally ill person.
Education on mental illness is more important. Learning warning signs and how to get help for any individual who needs help. His teachers knew he needed help but could not get him what he truly needed. How tragic is that?. Again another hero is the teacher who tried so hard to get him help when she saw the warning signs and put her own self in danger to help this student. What a good example and role model she has been to all of America.
Jennie, Winston Salem, NC (Sent Apr 20, 2007 11:26:03 PM)
Today, Saturday April 21, the press is still an intrusion on our campus. As an on campus resident, with my dorm facing the drillfield were most of the press gather, I thank Mike Taibbi who wrote this article. The more of you who are gone the better...but it is time for ALL of you to be gone. Let us, the students, try and gather ourselves so that we can remember our fallen hokies, and finish the last two weeks of the semester without people taken pictures of it all.
Suzanne, Blacksburg, VA (Sent Apr 21, 2007 8:41:23 PM)
I couldn't agree with Steve from Tulsa, OK more. I will add I don't understand the attack on the News and media for the footage. That's their job to cover news be it good or bad. It's just the world we live on lives out more bad than good "as seen on TV." But what if a copy was discovered in Cho's room or computer or say he hadn't made it to the post office to mail this "manifesto." The authorities would have discovered it during their investigation, and either way it would have ended up in the hands of someone and exposed. The one day constant showings were to be expected and accepted. The percentage decrease thereafter was a decent effort of continuing coverage for this 'ungraspable' story...for those that were late. Like few have acknowledge...you didn't have to watch it.
Carla, St. Louis, MO (Sent Apr 22, 2007 5:32:15 AM)
I could rant on and on, but I'll be brief--I just want the media to leave. We need space and time to heal. I know you'll be back in a year, but hopefully you'll just show archival footage for a day and then be done with it.
Michael, VT Mechanical Engineering 2008, Blacksburg, VA (Sent Apr 23, 2007 8:13:21 AM)
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