As everyone in our neighborhood no doubt knows, a woman was shot while waiting to pick up her daughter outside NorthPark Center last Friday night. (If you don’t know it’s because television cameras weren’t allowed to capture any raw shocking footage). NBC5 reporter Scott Gordon has posted some relevant updates on his blog including some frightening details. Luckily, the woman, Mary Boyd, is recovering, and NorthPark has announced a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Scott also has an interesting (and disputable) take on NorthPark’s handling of the incident on the media relations front.

He argues NorthPark was irresponsible because they banned television reporters from mall property following the shooting. In Scott’s opinion, they were doing a disservice to the public by preventing the flow of information. I get his point, but

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I am more inclined to feel NorthPark was protecting the victim and her family whose horror and vulnerability would have quickly become a five-second clip played over and over all weekend long. Case in point, remember this report featuring a devastated man who graphically describes his brother’s death along the Dallas Tollway?

My young daughter caught that one on the evening news and had nightmares for a week. I understand that raw emotion caught on video draws ratings. It’s the same reason we have onlooker traffic on our roads — we can’t help it. We are fascinated with gore and tragedy, which puts TV media people in a pickle. If they want a successful career, they have got to get the shocking visuals.

One reporter might have stepped on the scene with responsible reporting and respect for those involved. I might also see a music video on MTV, but history tells me I’ll probably see a reality show instead. Newspeople clamoring for a shot seldom exhibit sensitivity (I know, I interned at NBC).

As a reporter I understand the frustration of being stonewalled. As a human being, I’m glad NorthPark did what they did.