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The Saddam Video: Journalism or Voyeurism? »
Posted by: coreyspring 1 year, 9 months agoNews outlets including Netscape have had their hands full this New Year's Eve as the video of Saddam's execution has emerged and producers and management are left trying to strike a balance between 'reporting the whole story' without being tasteless.
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coreyspring
I hang out a lot in the TV area, some of my favorite shows are, in no particular order: The Office, My Name is Earl ...
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Comments: 114
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okitech
Dec. 31, 2006, 8:37 p.m."strike a balance between 'reporting the whole story' without being tasteless"
too many media outlets have had a past record of distorting the truth with half research articles or photoshped images. they should report as they saw it and let us decide what is tasteless. how evwer they view it is should be seperate from the truth....i am not a "truther" but i dont want my news filtered by someone else.
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LABELDUDE
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:56 a.m.A pack of fools trying to "...strike a balance ..."; or 1000 clowns trying to type up an encyclopedia. Either way we get pretty much the same result.
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samsara15
Dec. 31, 2006, 8:41 p.m.I don't like dwelling on images of executions. I'm not a fan of capital punishment, and think it is primitive.
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DanmLiberals
Dec. 31, 2006, 11:09 p.m.What's worse, CNN airing an American soldier getting shot by a sniper or watching Saddam get hung?hhhmmmm....
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jordan11
Jan. 1, 2007, 1 p.m.I don't like dwelling on images of executions. I'm not a fan of capital punishment, and think it is primitive.>>>>
Well said. Watching the media over this has been surreal. I swear I saw a few commentators foaming at the mouth in anticipation, and then switching to smiles as they bounced from one story to another. Bizarre.
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DrewDube
Jan. 1, 2007, 4:29 p.m.Death is death and either way it is unsettling and unnecessary for someone to decide when it happens to another person, I myself don't agree with the death penalty, it is gods job to decide when a person dies.
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Fedquip
Dec. 31, 2006, 9:09 p.m.Well Said Corey, I simply refer to the whole situation as "A media death orgy"
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Eagle_Eye
Dec. 31, 2006, 11:43 p.m.Thanks Corey for this post, I started to watch it and then suddenly stoped when I saw the stairs. I felt, do we really need to watch this man die? My inner voice told me no, so I feel that something like this is just gory and gross.
I also admit at this time I like the sink button. I'm a big enough bird to admit it and this was one time I felt good about it.
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OldRusty
Dec. 31, 2006, 11:58 p.m.Well ol saddam's neck is about two feet long,ben laden should be the next objective.We have taken to long, this is a prime example of swift justice, just what America has forgotten.
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nickpana
Jan. 1, 2007, 2:15 a.m.Hey oldrusty do you belive in terrorism and all the bush stupidities?
Wake up... the whole situation is about money and oil...
bush & company are taking YOUR MONEY (taxes) have ruined dollar 1 GBP = 2 USD AND GOING UP, giving the money to Haliburton (really is there any cabinet member connected to Haliburton?) and other lobby companies, let American soldiers to be killed (3,000 and counting), have trippled the gas price (is really is mr. bush the owner of an oil company?). How clever to name the whole situation terrorism.
Skulls and Bones made an excellent job. Congratulations.
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jamespond007
Jan. 1, 2007, 5:33 a.m.SORRY THIS MAN WAS ALREADY DEAD SINCE HE WAS CAPTURED AND SINCE ALL THE EVIL HE DID TO PEOPLE JUST LIKE A GUY CALLED HITLER;
sO THEY ONLY THING THEY DID TO HIM WAS GETTING RID OF HIS EVIL BODY WHICH HE KNEW VERY WELL;
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WITH HITLER IS THAT THIS GUY KILLED HIMSELF WHICH WAS A TRUE ACT OF COWARDICE WHILE SADAM KNEW HE WAS SHOWING THE WORLD A LAST ACT OF HIS BRAVERY?????AND GREAT CHARACTER BY KILLING AND MURDERING INNOCENT PEOPLE.
IF MAN IS ALIKE GOD THEN I PREFER HIM NOT TO EXIST.
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Star_Poet
Jan. 1, 2007, 6:52 a.m.Same ol' same ol'... I sunk it once and I'll do it again.
For those who were not listening... I want nothing to do with the killing of a fellow human being.
Stop pestering me by trying to change my soul on the matter.
It will not happen in this lifetime.
I will never stop loving our World.
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HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
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procyon
Jan. 1, 2007, 7:22 a.m.There is always a sense of relief when a guy like this is taken out, but what about this bunch of wild yahoos immediately after the hanging?
Most telling was the behavior of the living after the execution. Were they fighting over the corpse for a barbecue? If they were happy with their deed then why not laugh and celebrate rather than all this shouting and pushing and shoving? But the press does need to get their stories in.
The venue was rather dreary and probably not even catered. Would a simple deli table with a Kosher section have been too much to ask?
And a memo to costume: lose the slanty eyed executioner masks, they are a racial slur to oriental viewers.
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krayzdrayzor
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:35 a.m.procyon, the phrase oriental viewers is considered a racial slur dating back to Great Britian's time in the lime light. Asian is the correct term if you need it in the future.
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DUlethal
Jan. 1, 2007, 8:03 a.m.Another murder of an Iraq citizen on trumped up charges for the sake of political ambitions. The government even murdered his attorney! Just what you would expect from a fascist nation like America. I am ashamed I have to live in this country.
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islandgirl263
Jan. 1, 2007, 4:01 p.m.No one said that you have to live in this country. Take your little behind over to Iraq and run your mouth there ,you will be watching your tongue hit the ground just before your face does as they burn you in the street for your insolence,not to mention that your family won't be very far behind you! If you are an immigrant writing this garbage then by all means, get the F**k out,go back where you came from. For you just Sh*t on every man and women for hundreds of years who have given their lives so you, an immigrant, are able to have freedom of speech, movement, religion etc. etc. in the USA.To hear you say that as you reap all of the benefits makes me see purple.Quit hiding behind the skirts of the USA,the country you are ashamed to be in.Go back to the country that never stops publicly fighting and killing innocents.
Quit taking up space in the US, eating our food,taking our jobs.Don't let the door hit you in the A*s on the way out either!!
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ck
Jan. 1, 2007, 8:34 a.m.Most of the mainstream media showed video of the hanging up to the noose being placed around his neck and then showed still pictures of his corpse. To a certain degree, I think that out-of-context depiction is more graphic than the video that okitech submitted to Netscape.
I am sure some people will view this video for voyeuristic reasons as Corey's article discusses, however, I still think there is journalistic merit to showing this video. This is a man who was a world leader, who was deposed by the U.S. Government, captured by the U.S., and tried and killed by Iraq. I think it's important for Americans to face that reality and see how different a new democracy like Iraq handles capital punishment than America does. Saddam's life affected world politics and his death and the way it has been handled is now still actively affecting the world. That's a leap and scale larger of an event than the fictitious Monica Lewinsky tape that Corey discusses in his article.
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okitech
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:56 a.m.ck agreed. I am very surprised the main stream media took such a restrained position. in the past a dead american being dragged through the streets was played over and over. I did not like that. In the past many of those type of videos had any value, jounalisticaly or historiacl
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HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
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coreyspring
Jan. 1, 2007, 2:47 p.m.In any respect, I feel at least fortunate that this happened over a holiday vacation so that the dozens of public schools that have Netscape set as their homepage were not in session and one click access to an execution from our homepage.
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Eagle_Eye
Jan. 1, 2007, 3:33 p.m.I guess it is a lot like watching John Kennedy get shot over and over.....I mean historically
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BravoSierra
Jan. 1, 2007, 9:29 a.m.Whether we like it or not, the research shows that the greatest deterrent to crime is swift and public administration of violent punishment...i.e. public executions.
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krayzdrayzor
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:28 a.m.Which study are you referring to? Many studies have disputed that very perception. Stating, no decrease in the number of violent crimes were committed even when the State demands capital punishment.
I think we could go round and round with differing studies, stats, and the like to bolster opinions but we wouldn't gain much ground in finding an objective answer.
Besides, crime deterrent domestic, and execution of international political figures is an apples and oranges arguement.
But being a ham I'm aware of your bRAVOsIERRA this time you exemplify it perfectly.
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wakeupamerica
Jan. 1, 2007, 5:53 p.m.You may question the effectiveness of capital punishment as a deterrant. I promise you however, Saddam has been deterred from ever doing any harm to another living being.
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FirePro911
Jan. 1, 2007, 9:57 a.m.It would be nice if our legal system moved as fast after a death sentence was handed out.
With a death row inmate being able to live another 10 years in prison is ludicrous. The scumbag defense lawyers continue to line their pockets and the bleeding idiot liberals continue to whine louder and louder with each inmate.
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RedstateLib
Jan. 1, 2007, 11:14 a.m.Well lets just throw out the Constitution, dissolve the Apellate Courts and the Supreme Court as well. We don't need that pesky thing called due process after all this is America and we have never convicted an innocent person and if we ever do well I am sure the fact that God will make it up to him for us will be a great consulation for him and his family.
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krayzdrayzor
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:05 a.m.Journalism or voyeurism? Both. Throughout history and differing cultures executions have carried this paradox. The answer lies within each individual's reason for watching an execution; is it to see justice carried out, is it for vengence, is it to prevent accusations that so-and-so really wasn't executed, or is it for the cheap thrill?
Obviously, if you have vendors selling snacks. Or, souvineer collectors swooping in like sea gulls for some gisly artifact there's a problem.
My history book showed Mussolini hanged. At one time I'm sure that photo was in news articles before it made it to my history book. Most likely if compared side by side, there would be differing textual messages.
Journalism is much the same way, one can go for the scoop or one can attempt a comprehensive reliable record. Likewise, the consumers must be critical of the source of information.
Ultimately, each of us must choose not only what we watch, read, etc. but why we do.
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HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
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THOMNH62
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:15 a.m.showing the video was the right thing to do, It would have been a theory that he was secretly alive, living with Michael Jackson
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HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
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Ranjha
Jan. 1, 2007, 10:37 a.m.I think it is in very poor taste that the filming of Saddam's hanging was even allowed much less broadcast by the media as it has been. I don't care whether some other countries in the Middle East are letting it be aired million times; the US media should have banned it. That is where civility or the lack of it shows up. What right do we have to call ourselves as civilized when our actions are barbaric? There was enough criticism already going on around the world against the United States for its unjust and illegal war(s) in Iraq and Afghanistan, why add fuel to the fire.
Saddam was a dictator and so many others are in the Middle East, some acting worse than him. Saddam killed his enemies; there are those in the Middle East who are killing the innocent and we keep our eyes shut against their cruel actions. I think it is disgusting.
We, the people of this once honorable nation must not let these injustices happen or we must not rate our Democracy (?) higher than the Communism.
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HomeGManComment has been removed: User banned.
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JWT1958
Jan. 1, 2007, 11:17 a.m.The dignity of the condemned is not the primary concern of showing an execution in totality to the public. The concern should be for society on the whole. It is just not right to pander to the those who take goulish delight at seeing a human being "snuffed". I'm reminded of when the tabloids published the autopsy pictures of little Jon Benet. Sick!
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RedstateLib
Jan. 1, 2007, 11:28 a.m.Does any one believe that the video with the witnesses and executioners taunting Saddam and praising Al Sauder will truely advance the hope for decreased sectarian violence in Iraq.
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DoubleEdgedSword
Jan. 1, 2007, 1:03 p.m.I sure don't. Kookie Muqie and his mahdi henchmen are potentially worse than Saddam. The war in Iraq certainly won't end when the US forces leave.
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DoubleEdgedSword
Jan. 1, 2007, 1:17 p.m.This is nothing new and nothing shocking. It was only a matter of how long it would be before the public could watch Saddam's hanging, beginning to end. Will it make him an enduring hero to some Iraqis, though? That's always the risk. I'd rather he had been dropped down some dank hole and forgotten.
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fretloop
Jan. 1, 2007, 1:43 p.m.we each have the right to choose what we want to veiw.
if you've seen it, then obviously "something" attracted you to it's availability. images of executions from years past have been available ever since I can remember.
we simply have the latest modern convieniences that allow us not to have to go down to the town square for a "good hangin'", we can simply click on the link.
death will always be a dark and distasteful subject at least for me, but I certainly wouldn't attempt to abolish the freedom of those who feel that for whatever reason, display of justice is the only means to it's proof of existance.
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RedstateLib
Jan. 1, 2007, 2:45 p.m.I saw the clip that ran on CNN yesterday. They ran the sound but stopped it when they put the noose on, which they said they were going to do, had they said they were going to show the whole thing I would have changed the station. I have no desire to see more of it and have not clicked on a single that takes you to it. So no nothing has attracted me to it. I will give the media credit for what I have seen the do tell you ahead of time how much they are going to show.
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starmuscleComment has been removed: User banned.
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Jbasq
Jan. 1, 2007, 2:24 p.m.I was looking over the comments and i can't stand it when people say they are ashamed to live in america it gets on my nerves. if it so god damn bad get the hell out of here and go live in another country were people can violate your rights and you cant do anyting about it. What a bunch a freakin hypicrite ahhh cant stand them
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contrast
Jan. 1, 2007, 5:30 p.m.thos countres dont have mcdonalds and roads big enough for SUVs and bluetooths and all that other crap we have. We have it just fine here people who say we dont usually havent traveled outside the USA...I have.
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