On a Friday in Manhattan, video cameras outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial captured a gruesome incident of a man setting himself on fire. The man had distributed pamphlets before dousing himself in an accelerant and lighting the fire. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. News networks such as CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC were covering the seating of a jury when the incident occurred. The networks had to quickly react to the gruesome scene and make decisions on what footage was too disturbing for viewers.
CNN had the most extensive view of the scene with narration from Laura Coates, their chief legal analyst. Coates described the emotional response of watching a human being engulfed in flames and being lifted onto a gurney. Fox News Channel briefly showed the scene before switching to a courtroom sketch of Trump on trial, apologizing for the disturbing content. MSNBC reporter Yasmin Vossoughian narrated the scene, mentioning that she could see the outline of the man’s body in the flames. The AP had a live shot stationed outside the courthouse capturing the incident, later replacing the feed due to its graphic nature.
Julien Gorbach, an associate professor of journalism, noted that news organizations did not have much of a dilemma in deciding whether to show the footage as it may not have served any purpose for the public. The incident highlighted how quickly information can spread and the importance of critical thinking in such situations. Gorbach emphasized the public’s responsibility to sift through information and verify the facts rather than relying solely on media coverage. The location of the incident near the courthouse where Trump was on trial may have led some to speculate on a connection, but news coverage was cautious in drawing conclusions.
Gorbach also mentioned the role of news organizations in not suppressing news for fear of confusion among the public. Regardless of what is shown on traditional media, information will eventually leak out through online sources or social media platforms. The incident serves as a test for the public’s ability to critically analyze and understand the events rather than relying solely on media reports. The coverage of the incident by various news networks shows the challenges faced by media organizations in handling sensitive and distressing content while balancing the need to provide accurate and timely news to the public.
