CNN Virginia Tech Shooter Negative Ethnic Portrayal

We, the undersigned, believe that media coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting incident has been untastefully presented with regard to the ethnic background of the Cho Seung Hui.

Understanding that, yes, he was in fact a South Korean immigrant, we believe that over-identifying him as the Korean-born killer reinforces not only the stigma on foreigners in America but also on those who are identified as Korean American, or even Asian Americans. This over-stressing of his Korean-ness, tied to these negative comments regarding the shooter, has effects beyond the scope of mere news presentation. It calls to question the issue of the American-ness of Korean-Americans and other Asian Americans.

Recalling the Columbine incident, the fact of the shooters, Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris, ethnic identity was not an emphasis as it was in the Virginia Tech shooting. They were Caucasian, but the stress was placed predominantly more on the fact of their actions. There was no such buildup on the fact of their ethnicity. He was Korean. But some of the more important issues should have been these: not enough was done about warning signs before Chos shooting; he, too easily, had access to guns; Cho was mentally ill.

As a result of this type of socially insensitive news coverage, we believe that hostile sentiments toward Korean Americans, and Asian Americans, in general, will increase. By further perpetuating racial tensions, this disturbs our right to live without fear from racial discrimination.

Realizing that, as a major news broadcaster, the station has a responsibility to objective, relevant, and socially sensitive news coverage.