TV Coverage of the Riot
Television reporting must bear great responsibility for the spread of fires, looting and general rioting throughout Los Angeles County, Northern California and other parts of the country.
The constant, graphic camera work showing the mindless ones doing their horrible destruction and encouraging others to spread their dirty work to other areas was unrelenting; pinpointing exact locations of the fires and looting, so as to provide the means allowing the mob to get to those sites and join in the massive terrorism. Some sensible restraint on the part of the TV coverage might have helped to contain those afflicted areas and permitted the police and firefighters to do their jobs unimpeded by the danger of attacking vandals.
I believe in freedom of the media and all First Amendment rights, but we had a situation where a mindless mob cried “Fire!” in a crowded theater.
PHYLLIS KOPIT, Anaheim
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