Hotmail
Messenger
My MSN
MSN Directory
NBC News statement on gunman’s video
Network to limit airtime for material, acknowledging ‘immeasurable’ pain
 | Video: Crime & courts |
 California OKs same-sex marriage May 15: California's Supreme Court overturned a ban on same-sex marriage, making California the second state to allow gay couples to wed. NBC Chief Justice Correspondent Pete Williams reports. |
Stand and be counted |
What keeps you up at night? Gut Check America wants you to tell us what really matters to our country. Click here to learn more and get involved. |
NBC News issued the following statement Thursday in regard to the materials it received from the gunman in the Virginia Tech shootings:
The pain suffered by the Virginia Tech community and indeed the entire country is immeasurable.
Upon receiving the materials from Cho Seung-Hui, NBC News took careful consideration in determining how the information should be distributed. We did not rush the material onto air, but instead consulted with local authorities, who have since publicly acknowledged our appropriate handling of the matter. Beginning this morning, we have limited our usage of the video across NBC News, including MSNBC, to no more than 10 percent of our airtime.
Our Standards and Policies chief reviewed all material before it was released. One of our most experienced correspondents, Pete Williams, handled the reporting. We believe it provides some answers to the critical question, "why did this man carry out these awful murders?" The decision to run this video was reached by virtually every news organization in the world, as evidenced by coverage on television, on Web sites and in newspapers. We have covered this story — and our unique role in it — with extreme sensitivity, underscored by our devoted efforts to remember and honor the victims and heroes of this tragic incident. We are committed to nothing less.
| Rate this story | Low | High |
MORE FROM VIRGINIA TECH: ONE YEAR LATER |
 Virginia Tech: One Year Later Section Front |
| Add Virginia Tech: One Year Later headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links
Resource guide