Perhaps we, the media, should reconsider what our job is. Perhaps you, the audience, should think about it, too. At the moment, we're not on the same page.
A young lady, Rissa Amen-Reif, was killed in Mankato over the weekend, when she and a friend were struck by a car. Amen-Reif was lying in the middle of the road at the time. In the wake of the death of Amanda Jax after a night of binge drinking in Mankato, it was not a big leap to the conclusion, even though it might well be wrong.
Let's be honest. In a given week, there are a dozen traffic deaths to focus on. Why do you think this one has drawn so much interest? The media may well have a suspicion that this was another drinking death, but can't do that story until toxicology reports come in. From all appearances, that's what Rissa's friends are afraid of because on a Facebook memorial page today, it says:
Out of repesct (sic) for Rissa and her family, we as her friends have made a descision to NOT comment to the media. Please repect our wishes and do not contact us.
If they were willing to talk to the media, here's what they might say, because it's what they did say on Facebook:
* So many good memories. Choir, LaCrosse, crazy trips with you and **** down frat row. You always had a beautiful smile on your face. You were such an encouragement for me.
* There was just something about you that made all of us just love you. Maybe it was your contagious laugh, your love for the community or your promising friendship to us all.
* I will never forget the 2-hour phone calls, the conversations over coffee at Dunn's, you smacking me in the arm after you realized I fell asleep at the movie last summer.
We also learned that she was a contributor to Campus Kitchens, an organization on schools around the country that cook and deliver meals to those who need them.
We don't yet know what led to Rissa Amen-Reif's death, but it's clear her friends are worried about the first question that -- let's face it -- we'll ask. And they're right. We'll ask it. We have to. But to what effect? No matter what she did in her life, Amanda Jax will mostly be known as the binge drinker in Mankato.
How to cover a young woman's death, and have it not become her life?
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Comments: 11
How can we see the person behind the story? I'd love to hear from people here.
This is tragic. The family doesn't need the media vultures circling the body or family.
Look, Minnesota loves to drink. And we are in complete denial that this is a young person's problem. It's not. For decades, Minnesota and the upper Midwest have been the biggest drinkers in the country. It's in our culture, and we pass it down to our kids.
THAT's the story that the media should be doing.... turning the situation back on ourselves to say why? Why do we pass this culture along.
The problem is it's difficult to that without an entry point. Two weeks ago it was Amanda Jax and if this case turns out to be one of alcohol, this case will be too.
You're right, the family doesn't need the media vultures circling the body. But people do need to reassess why we do what we do in the hope that some other family doesn't go through this.
It's not black and white. There's no good guy and bad guy here. It's not that simple.
It never is.
Bob, a growing majority of people in the general public have no respect for TV news people. The ratings prove it.
I think if you click on any of the links provided and read some of the stories of these sorts of decisions, there actually is a conversation that people and the media can have that goes beyond the "I hate you" stage.
If you know a person, and their life becomes surprisingly public because of their death, should you try to tell their story directly? Can you? Can individuals use all these publishing tools to tell the story?
Bob, this piece: Unwanted Spotlight / When private people become part of a public story really made me think. It is a tough subject to cover - and then to uncover in a sort of behind-the-scenes essay.
There are two stories here. One of personal loss. Bob, I think you covered that well by quoting the Face Book entries. The other story of the exuberance of youth, can be covered later, after family and friends have had a chance to mourn.
I understand why the media would want to mix the two stories, since the immediacy of a death heightens the emotional resonance of the viewer, but I cannot understand why the media would stoop to doing this.
Media is a business, granted, but there are limits to business.
They're just caryring on a family tradition. A sick tradition, perhaps, but still a tradition.
Ouch!!