Two New York tabloid newspapers, the New York Post and the New York Daily News, took the low road on Thursday morning by publishing grisly still images from the video filmed by the gunman who killed two Virginia journalists during a live broadcast the day before.
The Daily News’ cover featured a series of three images from the gunman’s sick video. The first one showed a handgun pointed at WDBJ reporter Alison Parker. The second showed the muzzle flash from the gunshot. The third showed Parker looking at the gunman in horror after she was hit. The headline: “EXECUTED ON LIVE TV.”
The Post, which is known for publishing lurid covers, was only slightly more restrained. It featured a single still image from the gunman’s bodycam video from before Parker noticed the weapon pointed at her. The headline: “TV MURDER: Gunman shoots journalists during live broadcast.”
WARNING: the images on the covers are graphic and disturbing.The Daily News cover can be viewed here and the Post’s cover can be found here.
The Post has a history of showing executions. The tabloid published an image of journalist James Foley’s execution by an Islamic State militant on its front page in August 2014.
To contrast, Virginia newspapers did not show the video stills on their front pages.
Good morning! Today’s Virginian-Pilot front page: pic.twitter.com/1SDMTh3i0A
— The Virginian-Pilot (@PilotNews) August 27, 2015
Today’s front page http://t.co/TKQQgc0OWv #WDBJ #VirginiaShooting pic.twitter.com/7n4PFK092a
— The Roanoke Times (@roanoketimes) August 27, 2015
