The body camera video of five Memphis police officers using excessive force to arrest Tyre Nichols will be released Friday afternoon, the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association said.
The arrest occurred Jan. 7. Police said they pulled Nichols over on suspicion of reckless driving. Nichols died three days later. Attorneys for Nichols’ family say he died from “extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.” Attorney Ben Crump said the police beating lasted more than three minutes, and that the video shows Nichols was tased, pepper-sprayed and restrained.
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News organizations will decide what to show and, just as importantly, should explain why they chose to show or withhold the video, which certainly will be graphic and sicken every thoughtful and compassionate person. Both publishing and not publishing the video carry consequences.
In cases like this — and we have had too much practice at making these decisions — I use a set of questions that my Poynter colleagues and I have developed over the years to guide our decision-making. One question I ask in cases like this is: If the main function of journalism is to “seek truth and report it as fully as possible,” then how would you explain why you withheld the video?
What is the journalistic purpose behind broadcasting the graphic content?
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Is the use of graphic material the only way to tell the story?
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When you mention race, ethnicity, gender, age details of those involved in an incident, how can you make it clear why those identifying details are important?
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If asked to defend the decision to your audience or the stakeholders in the story, such as a family member, how would you justify your decision?
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How will the video affect other stakeholders beyond this incident?
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Approved ~ FS
FoundingFrog
Article URL : https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2023/video-memphis-police-excessive-force-tyre-nichols-journalism/