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TV reporter and videographer killed on air in Virginia
Bring on the guns. And, by all means, let’s all practice our quick draws – just like in the reruns of “Gunsmoke,” “Rifleman” or “High Chaparral.”
It was only a matter of time until journalists got pulled into the fray of senseless and deadly shootings at the hands of a mentally ill, emotionally troubled, disgruntled, perverted jihadist (pick your adjective or adjectives) shooter.
This time, television viewers in Virginia watched the latest tragedy live. A WDBJ crew was doing a piece on tourism. The reporter and cameraman were killed by a former colleague who had been fired by the station. A woman being interviewed was injured. The shooter drove away and later apparently shot himself as he was being pursued by police.
Another tragedy played out – this time on TV (and, yes, of course, on YouTube and Twitter and Facebook). But even more disconcerting than yet another nonsensical act of violence and madness was the almost universal instant reaction across the digital world.