Good choice. I hope other media follow suit. Thank you.

Thank you! Now, please take the video off your Web site as well -- or at least get it off the front page.

Last night I sent a letter to CNN asking them to remove the picture posted on their home page. It was a particularly disturbing photo of Cho pointing a gun directly at the camera with the barrel quite close to the lens. Very disturbing to suddenly have the pop up in your face when looking for news updates.

Yes, those images are part of the story, but the hurt and pain they cause (not to mention the influence they may have on folks who are inclined to think of Cho as a hero of some sort) definitely now far outweigh their journalistic integrity or newsworthiness.

--Cindy, valid points. We have removed the image from our home page.
Frank Mungeam, site manager

I tried accessing the NBC site to express my disgust at the airing of the Cho video. As a teacher and a parent, I found no value in giving this man a platform. In my opinion, all this did was glamorize his behavior and possibly incite similar behavior in other people.

I have to disagree with your discision to remove this news story. That's what it is. News. People need to see this so that it can be recognized and understood by everyone in the community. It helps people to recognize the warning signs to look for in people in society who may commit similiar acts. I have to say I'm disappointed with your choice in this matter.

Jeanne

--Jean, thanks for your candor. To be clear, we have not removed the story from kgw.com. We are not using the graphic images any longer on the home page of our web site, but they are available via a link (including a "graphic" warning), to those who want access. Likewise, the video is available under Video On Demand, but the graphic image is not posted on the home page.

Frank Mungeam
Internet Site Manager

Good for you guys. I am glad to see someone has taken this step. I hope that others follow in your footsteps. Thankyou

I am in agreement Cho should be removed as being the focal point of this tragic event. Why give the "criminal" publicity. The story be concentrated on the victims and those that morn their early deaths.

It was a socially shameful and irresponsible move motivated by greed and money -not compassion or a desire for understanding, when the news outlets ran the videos and photos. Shame on them all. I applaud your decision, but wish it could have came sooner.

The photos were not shocking to me as we all know what a psycho he was. The poor victims were shot by this lunatic...I'm sure the "American People" can deal with seeing Cho act like a complete idiot in front of a camera.
I DO NOT, however, feel his crap should have been aired on NBC or any other broadcasting network. By airing his video's, photo's and ridiculous hateful words for the world, Cho was granted his last and final request. Sending the package to NBC guaranteed Cho air time. He's done nothing with his life up until now and he knew he'd die famous this way. We helped him out by airing his garbage. NBC should've denied his last request.

I think people just need to lighten up. Yes, what happened was a terrible tragedy, but the last thing we need is censorship of our media outlets. I fail to see how not showing these things will help the mourning process.

If it bothers you that much, than don't watch it. You don't hear me complain when it snow's 1/2", and every news channel interrupts normal programming, to bring you "Storm Watch 07'" garbage.

I also highly doubt that seeing videos and images like this will cause somebody to go and do the samething. Obviously Cho decided to do this all on his own, without watching a news clip of some other guy doing this. People that do these things do these things because of far greater problems inside. To prevent things like this from happeneing again in the future, we need to identify and address THE CAUSE of the problem. Not bury our heads in the sand in the hopes that if we don't see anything bad, nothing bad will happen.

Good job, but you never should have shown it in the first place. You & everyone that showed the pictures/video/audio/etc gave the killer EXACTLY what he wanted. You have also encouraged anyone in the future that wants to do something simular. Did you get the ratings you wanted for showing?

-- Bob, thanks for sharing your viewpoint, that's what this blog is for. I did want to share our thinking on the question you asked (why show it?): This was a young man who didn't even speak to his own roommate for six months, who committed an unthinkable act of violence. Sharing the images and words last night offered in many ways the only insight any of us has into what was on this young man's mind, and what could possibly have led him to engage in such atrocities. That was what made the images and video "news" the night they were released. To continue running that video on TV today seemed like exploitation, and sensationalizing, and that's why we and some other TV stations have halted their use.

Frank Mungeam
Internet Site Manager, kgw.com

NBC New.

I have been a faithful viewer of your network for years. I understand the need for utilizing breaking elements of events for the purpose of individualizing NBC from the other networks. It is only good business strategy, but at what cost?

When the network provided coverage by use of image and sound from the killer at Virginia Tech (regardless of how slight) you provided that sick mind with what he wanted. The damage has been done. The man was heard around the world and for what purpose? There was no need to give this man the power he wanted after he caused so much pain and suffering. He won in every way even in death. How many more sick minds are going to get motivation from your coverage? In the words of the killer � the blood is on your hands.

I will not be able to view your network any longer. I do not believe the responsible persons should loose their jobs for this, but they need to be brought into reality. I have deleted NBC from my accepted channels. I only hope in the future your network will be more responsible in its coverage. I will not be watching to find out.

Sincerely
David Tendler

Thank you! Good decision. Yes, it's "news". But I'm inclined to believe that most people have heard or read the story by now anyway. Any further display of the images and video is sensationalism. By removing it from the front page (but still keeping it accessible to those who are interested) Your "approval rating" in my eyes, as gone up 100%. You brought a little ray of sanity into my crazy world today. I'll continue to make KGW my only source for news as long as you continue on this path.