Media coverage of the DC shooter is meant to keep the nation informed, not divide us further

There should be no illusion around the intended effect of opening fire on elected American officials warming up on a beautiful day for a game of baseball, our national pastime. Unconfirmed reports are floating around about the attacker’s intentions as he lays in the hospital under police custody.

At times like this, after the stress of inconsistent and demoralizing statements and policies from the administration have undermined many Americans’ confidence in our institutions, it is the responsibility of the press to keep the American public informed in as professional and effective way as possible.

At 9:17 EST (8:18 CST for me), I witnessed CNN ask the most embarrassingly unprofessional, inane, irrelevant, and unstructured questions of witnesses — people who are undoubtedly in shock or unreliable in such a context before they have been questioned by the authorities. They asked the witness if he could tell what kind of gun the shooter was using or what his motivations were. They were making it up as they went along.

Fox News had actually sent a correspondent to the scene to show the baseball field and explain that the fenced in nature of the field made this location a perfect option for a deadly attack, and why its structure would cause so much chaos within. Bill Hemmer followed up the correspondent’s explanation with quotes from the police chief Michael Brown, who explained that authorities responded within 3 minutes. They then followed with an update on Rep. Steve Scalise’s injury (shot in the hip and airlifted to the local hospital), with the President’s Twitter response, and the Vice-President’s cancellation of his events today and his statement on the events. They then mention they had a scheduled interview with Sarah Huckabee Sanders at 11 and if that stands, they’re hoping for a real-time reaction from the White House — but only if they’re able to keep to the interview as things will be understandably chaotic at the White House today.

Then they finally brought on a witness, Rep. Gary Palmer from Alabama, and asked clear, cogent, and pointed questions that a witness and someone who experienced the event would actually know, understand, and be able to respond to.

“Where were you at that time?”
“I was at shortstop, 20 steps.”
“So you hear the gunfire at your side?”
“I hear the gun shoot, and I turned, and the shooter, the guy fired again, and we all took off for first base where the gate is.”
“So from the first sound you heard, you thought it was a gunshot.”
“I knew it was a gun shot when I heard it.”

“How long did this last?”
“I would say this was 10 minutes at least, maybe longer. If not for Scalise’s security, it would have been, I would have no doubt that people would have been killed. They engaged the guy, both of them were wounded, one female officer in the leg, and the other officer in the leg, and they continued to return fire. I saw it and they should be commended for their courage.”
“Rand Paul said without the police response this would have been a massacre.”
“It would have been.”
“Alexandria Police say they responded in 3 minutes. Would you remember if that was the case?”
“I think it was longer.”
More questions then….

“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“How many people were shot today, would you know?”
“I think maybe five, someone had an ankle shot.”
“Just to be clear, you said five.”
“I think five.”
“Are you able to absorb or even understand what your morning has been like?”
“Well Bill, it’s a different world, and it’s really sad that things have come to this point. We have to figure out a way to heal this country. I don’t know the gentlemen, but it’s been reported that he asked whether we were Republicans or Democrats. I can’t confirm that, we need to figure out a way to bring the country together.”
“Indeed. Sir thank you, and I’m glad to know you’re okay and we can send our regards to you and your family. I’m certain everyone watching is concerned about you and hopes that you’re okay. Thank you”

“Word from the White House is that Sarah Huckabee Sanders will not be able to be on our show today, which, given today’s events, is completely understandable.”

This was followed by sound bytes from Senator Rand Paul and then an update on the shooter’s health in the hospital.

Then, in an interview with Senator Mike Lee, there is clear caution issued to viewers against speculating on the motivations of the shooter until we know more.

“We don’t know who this person was, what he was dealing with, or what his motives were. We need to speak in conciliatory terms every opportunity we can, every day.”

Then they call up Rod Wheeler, homicide detective for Alexandria PD, and he makes a point of saying that the female police officer was the one to disable the shooter while injured and explain everything about how police response works. You can actually hear Bill typing notes, and then saying outright:

“This shooter was clearly out to kill as many people as possible.”
“Oh absolutely… people are trying to find out what kind of gun he had too.”
“There is so much we don’t know about the shooter. What his motivations were, where he was from, we just don’t know. Police will be back on the mic in 30 minutes. After talking to Rep’s feelings about what he went through, clearly after the last 15–20 years, the security on Capitol Hill has gotten more and more intense, and often times, events like these change our patterns, our behavior, our level of security, and you wonder what impact an event like this could have on our security on a day to day basis. We are two hours and twenty minutes into this and this will be digested over the coming days and weeks, but this could have been a massacre.”
“Look at the amount of weaponry he had. Look at the amount of ammunition he brought to the scene. But because of the courageous Capitol Hill officers, we were able to stop it. But what about airports? Bill you and I have talked about this. We can do a better job at keeping people safe.”
“Thank you Rod. Get more information and come on back.”

So far this morning, I have to commend Fox News for covering what will undoubtedly be considered one of the most terrifying events in our nation’s history. The intentions of such an act, while still nebulous in this individual case, are generally always the same. To make some point or another in an evil way — taking lives in the most malicious and destructive tantrum possible.

The United States is not unfamiliar with mass shootings, nor do we Americans forget that our leaders’ blood permanently stains the steps of white marble buildings just as the blood of murdered indigenous people has seeped into the land itself. We are not immune to fear, but as always, we must resist the urge to panic and instead, keep ourselves informed. Today, Fox News has done an outstanding job in professionally and elegantly presenting the known information, in investigating further leads, in keeping viewers updated in a fluid and organic way, in asking critical questions to the appropriate sources, and moreover, treating their guests with dignity, respect, and deference given their experiences today.

Today, Fox News is in the nation’s service. For the first time in sixteen years, I actually hope they keep doing what they are doing, and that we will follow their example in the coming days.