Notes on Media Etiquette in CD8 Shootings

Posted by Michael Bryan

As I have watched the last 30 hours of press coverage of the CD8 Shootings two things have struck me very strongly.

First, I would ask everyone to stop referring to Jared Loughner as a "gentleman". I have seen this dozens of times from officials and reporters and I practically lose my lunch every time. Gentlemen do not attempt to assassinate people. Gentlemen do not kill innocent by-standers. Gentlemen do not kill little girls. Gentlemen refrain from harming others.

Mr. Loughner, whatever else he may be, is certainly no gentleman. STOP REFERRING TO HIM AS A GENTLEMAN! I understand that 'gentleman' has become a much more generic term over time, but surely it still has some meaning, and should not be used to refer to vicious, murdering psychopaths like Loughner. Perhaps Dr. Word would weigh in on the matter?

Second, I am tired of broadcasters continually checking themselves when referring to Loughner to ensure they don't call him what he is: the killer. Don't call him the 'suspected killer', nor just the 'suspect'. He is not a suspect; he is the killer. He was caught red-handed by witnesses at the scene. There is no practical doubt as to who did this crime.

True, Mr. Loughner has not yet been convicted, and must be considered innocent until proven guilty BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM, but unlike normal circumstances when the may be doubt as to the identity of the real culprit, and the media needs to be careful not to present those in custody for a crime to be conclusively guilty, there is no doubt that Loughner is the killer.

The normal etiquette of the media does not apply to Mr. Loughner. As a prosecutor myself, I understand the impulse to ensure even-handed and fair treatment of those suspected of crimes. That impulse is misguided in this circumstance.

There is no way that Mr. Loughner will be tried in Southern Arizona. Attempts to prevent a poisoning of the jury pool are misguided and useless.

Media figures, you can and should refer to Mr. Louchner as exactly what he is: THE ASSASSIN, or THE KILLER, or perhaps THE SHOOTER.