| COMMUNITY |
| Message Boards Chat Feedback |
| SITE SOURCES |
| Contents Help! Search CNN Networks |
| SPECIALS |
| Quick News Almanac Video Vault News Quiz |
|
Fearing copycats, paper keeps Oregon shooting off front page
May 22, 1998
Chicago Sun-Times
Web posted at: 12:58 p.m. EDT (1658 GMT)CHICAGO (CNN) -- In a front-page notice to readers on Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times said it was keeping the Oregon school shooting story off Page 1 to avoid provoking copycats and frightening young readers. The notice also was carried on the newspaper's Web site.
The print version of the Sun-Times devoted all of pages 2 and 3 -- including five photographs -- to Thursday's rampage. The paper's Web site carried an Associated Press account of the shootings, without photographs.
"Following the series of school shootings nationwide, we see a danger that prominent reports of each successive incident could be contributing to the phenomenon," the newspaper said in its notice at the bottom of Page 1.
Chicago Tribune "We do not wish to encourage any unstable teen-ager to think of shooting as a way out of adolescent torments," it said. "And we do not wish to alarm smaller children."
The Sun-Times added that if a similar shooting happened in Chicago, "we would have to report it fully on Page 1."
The Chicago Tribune, the Sun-Times' hometown rival, featured the shooting prominently on its front page. The Tribune's Web site did the same.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Message board:
Related stories:
- Oregon teen due in court after shooting spree - May 22, 1998
- Suspect called short-tempered, fascinated with explosives - May 22, 1998
- Blood stains Oregon high school - May 21, 1998
- Expelled student held in Oregon shooting - May 21, 1998
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser windowExternal sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
|
Sound off on our message boards & chat |
|
© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.