Interviewing Children? Really?

Newtown Shooting

The media reared its ugly head around the events of the Newtown shooting. News organizations falsely publicized the brother of the killer, publishing factually incorrect information in an attempt to have the latest developments. I haven’t heard much about this though:

Or this.

Or this.

Or this.

These are only a few of the interviews. Visit any news organization for a variety of interviews with children. And then they have the audacity to publish news articles like this.

Does anyone else find this incredibly messed up? As I followed the events unfold on Friday, I couldn’t help but be disgusted. A massacre just happened at the school, and the media starts interviewing 6-10 year old children? These kids are eyewitnesses, but there’s a line, and the media crossed it. Why did the parents agree to this?

I think it’s pretty clear that the young students don’t fully grasp what just happened – any adult in this situation would at least cry a little?

These shootings have ignited gun control talks and mental health issues, but what about disingenuous interviews sparked by a lust for pageviews, clicks, and advertising revenue?

This is what the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma says.

Avoid interviewing children at the scene. They are very likely in shock and need comfort, not questioning.

How can we stop this?

**
**I would love your thoughts in the comments below – this is just wrong.