The Media Blitz; The Media In Response To An Event.

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Media today is very quick to get any story out, no matter if its true or not. The media
Is a competitive business so every media outlet tries to get the story out first so it can grab peoples attention. Humans are naturally curious, and we want to know things as soon as possible. Media outlets can use this to their advantage to make money off of our curiosity. Unfortunately, when tragic events occur media outlets are some of the first to arrive at the scene. They report anything they can get with out getting any, or very little validation of the information. This phenomenon happened during the Columbine massacre shooting. In the novel Columbine, David Cullen shows the corruption in media by explaining the myths and rumors around the event.
From the very beginning of the tragedy there were already rumors being spread. “One hour into the Columbine horror, news stations were informing the public that two or more gunmen were behind it. Two hours in the Trench Coat Mafia were to blame.” (Cullen 150) This quote shows just how fast the media responds to situations like these. In this case the media was faster then the first responders that day. The Trench Coat Mafia was a very popular myth. “Two gun-toting teens were dressed in black trench coats and wearing masks, students said. Some said they were thought to be member of a small group of "outcasts" at the school known as the "trench coat mafia.'' ” (CNN) This was the second report on CNN after the event, at 10:46 pm on the day of the event. Even hours after the event the media was still reporting false information. On the New York Times they posted an article titled; TERROR IN LITTLETON: THE TRENCH COAT MAFIA; Students on the Fringe Found a Way to Stand Out. The New York Times has ...

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...ining the myths that came up during the Columbine Massacre. Whether the media is repeating false information or exaggerating things to draw attention. The media can make tragic events worse then they already are. The Columbine tragedy is a prime example of the problems in media. For as bad as media can be, it is a very useful tool to spread information around the world quickly.

Works Cited

Pulley, Brett. "TERROR IN LITTLETON: THE TRENCH COAT MAFIA; Students on the Fringe Found a Way to Stand Out." The New York Times. The New York Times, 21 Apr. 1999. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
"As Many as 25 Dead in Colorado School Attack." CNN. Cable News Network, 20 Apr. 1999. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.
Cullen, David. Columbine. New York: Twelve, 2009. Print.
Marsh, Rene. "Third Person in Southwest 737 Cockpit Raises New Questions." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Jan. 2014.

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