By: Gene Cervantes
CAH President, Jan Miller’s “Words” are thought-provoking and asks questions that do, in fact, deserve answers. Following is another slant on the deserving consideration of publicity.
Over the past several weeks, we have been inundated with the news of Cory Monteith, Co-Star of the elevision program “Glee”. The victim of a heroin/alcohol overdose, his death is sad and unfortunate.
Throughout the United States, countless murders occur daily. These deaths are also sad and unfortunate. However, the publicity given to these murders pale in comparison to the publicity given to the Cory Monteith death. There is a logical explanation for this publicity inconsistency and inequity—
“CELEBRITY”, is what drives media outlets to give or not to give coverage to a death (accidental drug overdose or murder victim). Both deaths are sad and unfortunate; however, there is a significant difference. One death was caused by the victim himself, the other caused at the hands of another. One death was the consequence of illegal activity, the other was absent of illegal activity by the victim. Their
only misfortune was lack of celebrity status.
Victims of murder deserve equal media attention. Why is it that television stations throughout the United States do not give consideration to provide 60/90 seconds, 2–3 times a week, for 2–3 weeks air time to the viewers in their communities?
Police in Waterbury, Connecticut reopened the investigation into Diane McDermott’s death in 2011, after her son, actor Dylan McDermott, contacted them with questions. The reopened investigation concluded that the actor’s mother was shot and killed in 1967 by her (now dead) gangster boyfriend. The death was made to look like an accident.
Again, “Celebrity Status” gets results.
I make no apologies for any remarks about the death of Cory Monteith. It is what it is. Simply put, victims want equal treatment from the media. Publicize and broadcast the fact that there is a murderer living in
your community. Show a picture of the murder victim and ask your viewers for help. Law enforcement is a function of the community. Many murders have been solved when a citizen picks up the phone and provides information. Imagine being a major contributor to solving a previously unsolved murder, because the media decided to do the right thing by providing coverage on the evening news.