Columbine murder photos do no good

As a 51-year-old man, I was surprised to find myself compelled to write regarding Oprah Winfrey, yet her canceling her Columbine anniversary show had me doing so. As I was writing to congratulate her on having the nerve to cancel a heavily promoted show, the local affiliate that broadcasts her show was in its midday newscast. Her reason for canceling the show was given as she felt it focused too much on the murderers themselves. I was thinking that the show could be good if it concentrated on warning signs, but without showing any photos at all of the murderers, since other mentally unstable people would be in danger of thinking any publicity is good publicity and look for their moment of glory. As I was thinking this the local affiliate that broadcasts Oprah's show put up still photos of the Columbine murderers, showing them carrying their firearms inside of the school while they were in the process of murdering students. A competing newscast immediately after this one showed yearbook photos of the murderers. The photos do nothing positive for the story. In any photo they will not have horns growing from their heads as an indication that maybe they will cause harm. The only thing accomplished by showing any picture at all of these young monsters is to give someone somewhere the idea that his/her picture could be broadcast for years to come and make the killer famous. How hard is it for the media to simply not show any photo of any murderer? It is simple, but the media seems to find it impossible to accomplish. It will take protests by readers and viewers. Contact the stations and papers and let them know if you agree. To Oprah, I congratulate you on wising up. Use your opinion to help influence the rest of the media. It is not censorship, it is good sense.

Bob Ritchey

Lombard