Kudos: The Roanoke Times

Kudos to the Roanoke Times for its blog-style coverage of today’s massacre at Virginia Tech.

The writers at the Times used the blog’s staccato-style to vividly describe what was happening on the ground in Roanoke, Va. quite effectively. This is media coverage in the 21st century, a blend of professional and citizen journalism.

Check out the Wikipedia entry on the shooting.

I extend my condolences to the friends and families of those killed in the shooting and to all who are affected by today’s tragic events. Things like this should never happen, but they do. Let’s just hope they don’t happen again anytime soon.

-Daniel

  • Mollie

    I thought it was really interesting and a lot more accessible and up to date how they reported this story. It’s definitely an appealing way to report on a developing story. More news services should put their trust in blog-style reporting. :)

  • Mollie

    FYI-
    This is a livejournal of a VT student who was presumed to be the shooter (looked alike, LOTS of pictures of guns, sappy breakup entries, etc.). Then he took it upon himself, when his hits got up to over 30,000 in one day, to sort of lead the public on, eventually confessing that it wasn’t him, and it wasn’t even really a hoax. Very confusing. What do you think about it?

    http://wanusmaximus.livejournal.com/

  • Daniel

    If the media wants to shift its focus away from the issue at hand, whatever. But any further coverage does a disservice to the families of the slain students.

  • Mollie

    Of course, but I think it’s an issue in itself that a student would set up a blog to pass himself off as this killer.