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News Media’s Misinformation

After tragedy struck at  Sandy Hook Elementary School around 9:40a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2012, many media outlets were searching for answers. Their desperation to report to the public what happened ,even before on seen investigators knew for themselves what was going on, lead to much misinformation being released.

While on scene journalists seemed to urge news anchors to be cautious of what information they were telling, much of the  non-confirmed, what were thought to be “facts”, were still told. This led the public to become misinformed about the event that had occurred.

As people first began to hear word that a gunman had entered Sandy Hook Elementary School they immediately became concerned. They feared for all of the young children inside of the school and were anxious to know what had happened.

Trying to keep the public informed and happy, media coverage became releasing any information that had even been speculated. One of the first pieces of misinformation released was the name of the gunman. News channels began putting the blame for this horrific event on 24 year-old, Ryan Lanza. It was not until later that afternoon news stations retracted that statement and realized they had named the wrong perpetrator.

After informing the public that Ryan Lanza had not committed the crime, but his 20 year-old brother Adam Lanza had they then began to speculate Ryan Lanza had also been involved. Eventually the public learned Ryan Lanza was not involved in the crime and he had been cooperating with law officials.

In their rush to mis-inform the public shortly after the event occurred, they began to tell the public that only three people inside of the school had been shot. The sad truth to this was however, that only three of those who were wounded made it the hospital. The others had already been pronounced dead at the crime scene.

Searching for a motive behind the tragedy the media also informed the public that Nancy Lanza, the culprit’s mother, had been a teacher at Sandy Hook Elementary School. This information was also incorrect and the superintendent of Newtown Schools informed law officials she had no record of Nancy Lanza ever working at the school. Nancy Lanza who was originally believed to have also been murdered in the school was actually murdered in her own home.

News media outlets also misinformed the public about the fact that Peter Lanza, the perpetrator’s father, had been also been murdered by his son at his home in New Jersey. The public later learned this information was not true either. Peter Lanza is alive, lives in Stamford, CT, and has not talked to his son in two years.

While news reporters were simply trying to get the public informed they may have went overboard in this case. With such a horrific tragedy, that will forever impact the lives of many people, it was important to have the correct information. Although the whole story will most likely never be known, it is critical that the knowledge given is at least correct and does not cause anymore harm to any innocent individuals.

2 thoughts on “News Media’s Misinformation

  1. GH December 17, 2012 at 10:19 pm

    How did he put the rifle back in his car after killing himself?

    1. KatieMoody December 19, 2012 at 10:44 am

      According to many news websites the gun that was found in the car was not used at all.

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