Mark Follman

Don't give them that attention they're seeking. And I understand and empathize with that from a moral or ethical perspective. But as a practical matter, it doesn't really make much sense. For me, the answer is more in the middle. Sort of figure out how to frame it properly, talk about what is informative and educating the public about the problem.

Don't give them that attention they're seeking. And I understand and empathize with that from a moral or ethical perspective. But as a practical matter, it doesn't really make much sense. For me, the answer is more in the middle. Sort of figure out how to frame it properly, talk about what is informative and educating the public about the problem.

Don't give them that attention they're seeking. And I understand and empathize with that from a moral or ethical perspective. But as a practical matter, it doesn't really make much sense. For me, the answer is more in the middle. Sort of figure out how to frame it properly, talk about what is informative and educating the public about the problem.

Let's figure out what the nature of this problem really is so we can try to solve it better. And you can't do that without identifying who you're talking about and explaining the specifics of their story. And furthermore, there's some other reasons to do it too. I mean, journalism... The duty of journalism, at least the kind that I'm involved in, is reporting in the public interest, right?

Let's figure out what the nature of this problem really is so we can try to solve it better. And you can't do that without identifying who you're talking about and explaining the specifics of their story. And furthermore, there's some other reasons to do it too. I mean, journalism... The duty of journalism, at least the kind that I'm involved in, is reporting in the public interest, right?

Let's figure out what the nature of this problem really is so we can try to solve it better. And you can't do that without identifying who you're talking about and explaining the specifics of their story. And furthermore, there's some other reasons to do it too. I mean, journalism... The duty of journalism, at least the kind that I'm involved in, is reporting in the public interest, right?

Trying to shine a light on problems and ideally on solutions to those problems. So that's the core mission there of looking at an event that is very traumatic in communities and has major impact. And then there's also this disinformation problem we have. This has been going on for decades with mass shooters. We see it more now.

Trying to shine a light on problems and ideally on solutions to those problems. So that's the core mission there of looking at an event that is very traumatic in communities and has major impact. And then there's also this disinformation problem we have. This has been going on for decades with mass shooters. We see it more now.

Trying to shine a light on problems and ideally on solutions to those problems. So that's the core mission there of looking at an event that is very traumatic in communities and has major impact. And then there's also this disinformation problem we have. This has been going on for decades with mass shooters. We see it more now.

But if the media doesn't identify who the perpetrator is, if authorities don't do that, what fills that void? Sure.

But if the media doesn't identify who the perpetrator is, if authorities don't do that, what fills that void? Sure.

But if the media doesn't identify who the perpetrator is, if authorities don't do that, what fills that void? Sure.

Oh, he was a Muslim terrorist. Oh, it was a transgender shooter. That's a good point. So if the media doesn't perform that role, what comes out is far worse.

Oh, he was a Muslim terrorist. Oh, it was a transgender shooter. That's a good point. So if the media doesn't perform that role, what comes out is far worse.

Oh, he was a Muslim terrorist. Oh, it was a transgender shooter. That's a good point. So if the media doesn't perform that role, what comes out is far worse.

And yet it's still really important to have the authentic information out there. I've watched this from the front row with many cases over the years. Roseburg, Oregon, Virginia Tech, we were talking about earlier, San Bernardino, the Orlando massacre, you name it. The first 24 hours, there's all kinds of false information flying around social media. We often hear, oh, there's multiple shooters.

And yet it's still really important to have the authentic information out there. I've watched this from the front row with many cases over the years. Roseburg, Oregon, Virginia Tech, we were talking about earlier, San Bernardino, the Orlando massacre, you name it. The first 24 hours, there's all kinds of false information flying around social media. We often hear, oh, there's multiple shooters.

And yet it's still really important to have the authentic information out there. I've watched this from the front row with many cases over the years. Roseburg, Oregon, Virginia Tech, we were talking about earlier, San Bernardino, the Orlando massacre, you name it. The first 24 hours, there's all kinds of false information flying around social media. We often hear, oh, there's multiple shooters.

That's wrong. The identity of the shooter, that's wrong. And that has real impact in some of these cases, people who are falsely identified, not to mention the sort of categorical demagoguery that plays out. So I think it's really important to have good, solid, dispassionate reporting on what's happening. Follow the evidence, tell the story. That's what I do.

That's wrong. The identity of the shooter, that's wrong. And that has real impact in some of these cases, people who are falsely identified, not to mention the sort of categorical demagoguery that plays out. So I think it's really important to have good, solid, dispassionate reporting on what's happening. Follow the evidence, tell the story. That's what I do.