Avoid detailed reporting on violence

In the past, students majoring in journalism were told to avoid reporting in details how a crime had been committed for fear that other people would imitate them. But today most of the media outlets, especially the tabloids, tend to sensationalize crime and violence to sell their "stories".

Even a cursory look at the reports on school attacks will tell us how the attackers got the weapons, how they planned their attacks and how they chose their targets. Few, if any, reports give as much coverage to how the judiciary dealt with them or whether the attackers were finally proved mentally challenged or not. Such media coverage could create the wrong impression about attackers and the punishment they are handed down.

Just a few days ago, the media were agog with detailed descriptions of how some suspects abducted and treated hostages. The public could do without such sensational bits of information. Instead, the media could focus on detailed follow-ups on how criminals are punished to deter people from crime.

The media have a dual responsibility when it comes to attack on schools or children: telling readers and viewers about the tragedy and helping prevent similar cases. If the media sensationalize the first part, they could fail to fulfill their second objective.

The Chinese media should use the latest attack on schoolchildren to think how to prevent such cases. They could, for example, appeal to education, public security and healthcare authorities to take precautionary measures to protect children. Besides, if the attack prompts the government to make treatment of critically mentally challenged patients mandatory, many lives could be saved.

The traditional media should not forget its role as a watchdog. It shouldn't try to blindly follow new media. Min's case has highlighted the evil effects of a rumor. The doomsday rumor has been widely circulated on the Internet, and many e-commerce businesspeople have used it to sell their products. Very few reports have questioned the practice of using public paranoia to make profit.

Most of the traditional media began refuting the rumors only this week. Had they, including newspapers and TV channel taken up the responsibility of telling people how unscientific the rumor was, the attack on the Guangshan school could have been avoided.

The mass media, traditional as well as new, should do whatever it takes to fulfill their social responsibility.

The author is a writer with China Daily. liyang@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 12/20/2012 page9)