From the Readers

Media to blame for attacks

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-24 07:56

Comment on "Debate: Attacks on students" (May 19, China Daily)

Zhan Jiang confuses the media's rights to report the attacks on children with their deliberate choice to sensationalize and exploit the incidents. By reporting the stories with the names, personal details and even close-ups of the cowardly perpetrators, the media of course give other losers an idea to earn their share of one-minute-fame.

Zhan knows well that the media deliberately choose to print the names and photographs of the killers. Details like that are not necessary to report any such attack. It only serves the media's quest for more readers and thus more advertisers and thus more profit. The unethical behavior should be stopped. If not, what will we get next? Interviews with attackers? The entire episode of the crime filmed and uploaded on their websites?

Media are like fire: They are a vital part of our lives, but in the wrong hands they become lethal and disastrous. That is why good parents don't let their children play with fire. At the moment, the Chinese media are acting like children playing with fire. When will the parents intervene? If they do not, let's hope advertisers will show high ethical standards by canceling their contracts with media outlets that sensationalize crimes such as attacks on children.

A concerned father in Shanghai, on China Daily website

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(China Daily 05/24/2010 page9)