Citizen Journalism and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Mass Shooting
Although modern journalists are capable of promptly responding to breaking news, cell phones allow regular citizens to capture live video/audio of newsworthy events as they unfold. Citizen journalism has allowed people around the world insight into issues and scenarios in a raw unedited form. When utilized well it has given momentum to movements, brought about cultural awareness and provided a wider field of vision to the fourth estate.
On Feb 14, 2018, citizen journalism offered us a glimpse inside the horror of a school shooting. Shortly before classes let out, a previously expelled student entered the premises and pulled the fire alarm, causing the hallways to fill with fleeing students. He then proceeded to unload clip after clip of ammunition from his AR-15 assault rifle. By the time the killing had ended, 17 students had lost their lives, and 16 more were injured.
The videos are hard to watch, to say the least, but they may be the most important coverage of the incident. No production value, no editing, just an uninterrupted view of the hell those students faced that day. Images of school children huddled in mortal fear, pools of blood, bullet holes, all punctuated by the cries of terror and anguish. We saw droves of school children corralled out of the building by law enforcement with their hands in the air, a precautionary measure as at the time of filming the shooter had yet to be identified or apprehended.
I am tempted to say society seems to have grown desensitized to indiscriminate murder, even that of babes. I can't bring myself to make that proclamation. Whether I'm being naive or hopeful remains to be seen, but for now, I choose to believe that we have grown accustomed to the sanitized presentation of these horrors instead. My own experience is merely anecdotal, but the student captured I saw from that day profoundly affected me. The raw footage that day contained more than just bullets and bloodshed, it contained the truth.
The truth is something needs to change. It has for a while now. We don't have all the answers yet, but the conversation must continue until we do.
On Feb 14, 2018, citizen journalism offered us a glimpse inside the horror of a school shooting. Shortly before classes let out, a previously expelled student entered the premises and pulled the fire alarm, causing the hallways to fill with fleeing students. He then proceeded to unload clip after clip of ammunition from his AR-15 assault rifle. By the time the killing had ended, 17 students had lost their lives, and 16 more were injured.
The videos are hard to watch, to say the least, but they may be the most important coverage of the incident. No production value, no editing, just an uninterrupted view of the hell those students faced that day. Images of school children huddled in mortal fear, pools of blood, bullet holes, all punctuated by the cries of terror and anguish. We saw droves of school children corralled out of the building by law enforcement with their hands in the air, a precautionary measure as at the time of filming the shooter had yet to be identified or apprehended.
I am tempted to say society seems to have grown desensitized to indiscriminate murder, even that of babes. I can't bring myself to make that proclamation. Whether I'm being naive or hopeful remains to be seen, but for now, I choose to believe that we have grown accustomed to the sanitized presentation of these horrors instead. My own experience is merely anecdotal, but the student captured I saw from that day profoundly affected me. The raw footage that day contained more than just bullets and bloodshed, it contained the truth.
The truth is something needs to change. It has for a while now. We don't have all the answers yet, but the conversation must continue until we do.
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