MEDIA: Why do we make celebrities out of criminals?

There was another senseless killing, and the first name I saw in the media was the name of the madman who committed it before we learned the name of the innocent man who was murdered.

I was in the park just a few blocks from the scene of the rampage with my grandson. When I saw the newscast I realized just how close we were to the happenings. If this madman had gone north instead of south, the whole scenario could have been played out in the park full of children.

Why do we give a name, face and notoriety to killers? Why do they end up in the media like movie stars? I bet if we asked anyone if they remember a tragic incident, say the Sandy Hook massacre, they will tell you the name of the perpetrator but not the name of any of those beautiful children.

There are laws that state you cannot publicize a name if they haven’t yet been charged or if they are a juvenile. Why not a law that forbids any mention of the criminal’s identity whatsoever?

I don’t want to see the names and pictures of unbalanced, seemingly inhuman criminals.

Tacoma

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 11:08 AM with the headline "MEDIA: Why do we make celebrities out of criminals?."