Fox News Airs Suicide Following Car Chase. Shep Smith: ‘We really messed up and I am sorry’

[Newsjock]

Source: TV Newser

A man committed suicide live on Fox News a few minutes ago. FNC had been carrying a car chase in the Phoenix area and when the suspect pulled over, he ran down a dirt road, then stopped, put a gun to his head, and fell to the ground. No other national networks were carrying the chase.

When the man first exited the car, anchor Shepard Smith said presciently ”You wait for the end of these things and you worry how they may end.” Viewers could hear Studio B crew members, who were watching a live feed of what was happening, gasp and Smith say, “Get off, get off, get off,” asking the control room to cut away. But they didn’t in time.

Fox then went to a commercial break. Upon returning, Smith said, “Well I’ve got some explaining to do.”

Smith explained that after the suspect excited the car, the network went into a five second delay, but that they failed to cut away.

Read more: http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fox-news-airs-suicide-following-car-chase-shep-smith-we-really-messed-up-and-i-am-sorry_b147972#more-147972

[MindMover]

1. I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...

I am

I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...
I am sorry my network has contributed to the demise of the USA ...

[mike_c]

2. to be frank, I'm more concerned about news channels using delays to censor events...

...than I am about seeing distressing occurrences. News consumers should examine their reasons for demanding the sort of currency that requires live footage of events in real time. If that's what we want, then that's what we should get. Life (and death) is messy sometimes. Deal with it, or turn the noise machine off.

Fair disclosure-- I turned the TV off more than two decades ago.

[DJ13]

51. +1

Delays are censorship when it comes to actual news events.

[tavalon]

59. I'm with you

Ditched the TV teet about 20 years ago.

That said, I think this was just a screw up by FN. Everybody might as well mark this thread as being the first time I supported FN ever. Likely to never occur again.

[msongs]

3. what's the big deal? FAKED reality shows get big ratings. nt

[Panasonic]

4. Please do not post the Youtube of the Faux Nooz mistake here

I alerted on the other subthread that had it - was hidden. I think it may be removed by Skinner due to shock content.

If they want to see it, link to it.

Thank you!

[Posteritatis]

10. The video at the OP's link is just Smith's reaction and statement. (nt)

[avebury]

11. I did not find it all that shocking. The scene was shot from a distance

and did not come across as graphic at all. They show stuff that is far more graphic on TV shows and movies.

[WinkyDink]

13. You do know there's a difference?

[avebury]

20. Oh course! The USA is such a gun oriented culture it is

hard to see why people get so shocked when someone actually uses a gun. At least in this instance, no other people were harmed and the guy saved the tax payers a lot of money on a trial and incarceration costs. I used to work in a hospital years ago and saw things far worse then what the video showed (for ex. the jaw of a guy who tried to commit suicide and failed - the stench was bad enough to make you gag).

[Indi Guy]

23. ???

"...the guy saved the tax payers a lot of money on a trial and incarceration costs."

I get that you've dealt with allot that the general public has not; but isn't that pretty cold, given that you don't know the underlying facts of the situation?

[avebury]

28. For whatever reason, the guy made his own

decision. I am not going to spend much time worrying about one person when there are a lot more important issues out there like what will happen if the Republicans are able to either steal the election or grind Congress to a halt if they don't. It is all a matter of priorities.

[davidthegnome]

29. Priorities?.... I beg your pardon, but

what greater priority might there possibly be than the life and safety of our fellow human beings? Quoting you here in an attempt to make a point:

"At least in this instance, no other people were harmed and the guy saved the tax payers a lot of money on a trial and incarceration costs. I used to work in a hospital years ago and saw things far worse then what the video showed (for ex. the jaw of a guy who tried to commit suicide and failed - the stench was bad enough to make you gag)."


Might I ask then, if you have experience in the field of psychology? Or have you, perhaps, ever personally struggled with severe mental illness or been close to someone who has? I have. I have suffered a wide variety of illnesses and of them all, post traumatic stress and the resulting depression and anxiety were by far the worst, for me. It is a matter of struggling to survive every day, to even attempt to perform basic daily functions, to deal with constant judgment and condescension by people who think you're simply lazy - by those whom, without significant experience of their own, suggest that you, "Go ahead and kill yourself" or, "Just get a job, bum".

Hell with my tax dollars... if they can go to help someone through trial, incarceration... or anything else, that may pull them out of a suicidal depression... then that's what they are FOR.

Now I consider politics and the coming elections to be important, to be sure.. but I consider the lives of my fellow human beings to be more important, by far.

I would suggest that if you prioritize tax revenue over human life... that perhaps your priorities might benefit from some added empathy.

[avebury]

36. Do you really think that prisoners get the medical and

psychological treatment they need in jail/prison? I seriously doubt it. I have read too many stories of prisoners developing serious medical conditions that resulted in death because, no matter how much they cried out for help, their cries went unanswered. I know a woman whose daughter ended up in the correctional system and the mother became involved in working for decent conditions for prisoners. You would not believe the stories that she told us.

We live in a society with the highest incarceration rate in the world. There is more and more movement towards private prisons some of whom demand a minimum occupancy rate as part of their contracts. Prisons are becoming a growth industry and private prisons are run to make a profit. I seriously doubt that their motivation is to help prisoners turn their lives around. I am a realist.



http://www.prb.org/Articles/2012/us-incarceration.aspx

(August 2012) Since 2002, the United States has had the highest incarceration rate in the world. Although prison populations are increasing in some parts of the world, the natural rate of incarceration for countries comparable to the United States tends to stay around 100 prisoners per 100,000 population. The U.S. rate is 500 prisoners per 100,000 residents, or about 1.6 million prisoners in 2010, according to the latest available data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).1

========

http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/private-prison-company-to-demand-90-occupancy?news=844040

The nation’s largest private prison company is offering cash-strapped state governments to buy up their penitentiaries and manage convicted criminals at a cost-savings. But there’s a catch…the states must guarantee that are there are enough prisoners to ensure that the venture is profitable to the company.

Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) has reached out to 48 states as part of a $250 million plan to own existing prisons and manage their operations. But in return CCA wants a 20-year contract and assurances that the state will keep the prisons at least 90% full.

In the past CCA has operated its own prisons and contracted with states to house inmates. But until now the company never offered to essentially take over public corrections systems.


Critics of the plan warn that if states commit to CCA’s deal, they could find themselves with little bargaining power down the road once it comes time to negotiate new contracts. And, if the crime rate continues dropping, will police, prosecutors and judges feel compelled to supply human “product” for the prisons anyway?


================
xiomreport.com/private-prisons-demand-high-occupancy-1577.html

A proposal submitted to prison officials in 48 states on behalf of the private Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) has received criticism from civil liberties advocates and state officials.

Henry Lappin, the former director of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, circulated the proposal amongst his former colleagues on behalf of the privately owned corrections company in January of this year – only one year after Lappin resigned from his federal post amidst a controversy surrounding a DUI charge.

===

At least one of those conditions has raised some eyebrows among civil libertarians, however. As part of the program’s provisions, state governments would be required to keep each privately run prison at 90% occupancy or higher for the duration of two decades, effectively turning state police into delivery men working on behalf of a private corporation.

[davidthegnome]

45. I think that some chance is better than none at all.

No, I don't suspect that your average prisons (or those who run them) are probably terribly concerned with such matters... however, my faith in humanity leads me to believe that some individuals will always be. It could be a kind guard, a psychiatrist with true compassion and ability... a prison warden, even the arresting officer or any other number of people. Anyone met at any time might offer that little bit of hope... of empathy and kindness that help another find the will to go on living.

One thing that my experience has taught me is that help and compassion can often come from the most unlikely places. There were times when I had all but given up - and then found inspiration and renewed hope when others treated me with compassion. Most often, they were my fellow sufferers.

As an employee and student I find it to be not only my responsibility to help care for those who need such help as I once did... but that I am glad to offer it. I will not begrudge the tax dollars that may be spent nor will I allow pessimism to crush my faith in my fellow human beings.

The prison system does need reforming. I am not an expert on the subject, but I still do not believe everyone working for every prison to be a heartless bastard.

[avebury]

47. A had a friend years ago who graduated with a degree

in Psychology. He went to work at the Maine Youth Center with the goal of helping young girls and boys turn their lives around. After working their awhile he told me that experience ended up teaching him that most of the kids should have been locked up and the key thrown away. One boy used to pull the I need psychiatric help routine to that he would be sent to the Mental Health facility in Augusta, Maine. Once there he knew that he could get out on leave. He had a reputation for doing nasty things to animals, including mowing one animal's head off. My friend's great hope and intentions got ground out of him pretty quickly.

I went to a class recently that was also attended by some employees of the Office of Juvenile Affairs. It was interesting hearing about their jobs. Each one had a case load and they talked about how often one of their kids ended up dead, progressed to the adult prison system, and how few actually made it as productive citizens. Their office has a specific dress code which they saw as no problem with the exception of wanting to wear sneakers when they went out on visits (the sneakers were desire to make it easier if they had to get out of a place ASAP).

In a lot of prison facilities there just is not enough staff resulting in dangerous working conditions for an overworked staff. That does not breed a good environment to for prisoners to be put in a position of being helped to turn their lives around. Look at the justice system where people are handed outrageous sentences for what are really not serious offenses while bankers/investors who brought fiscal disaster to this country walk away unscathed. Until the whole criminal justice system is totally overhauled things will never get any better and people who have committed only minor offenses will not have a real chance to get their life back on track. There is not incentive for the 1% to change the system because prisoners are a source of cheap labor.

[davidthegnome]

48. If the 1% will not do it...

Then we must find a way. I won't pretend to have the solutions up my sleeve, but I believe that education - spreading the information, informing the public of the situation.. is half the battle.

Another thing I would suggest is that things often become this way in a corrupted society... because there is not enough compassion to go around. So many people are enthralled by media, by politics, by sports and by various other things that... while significant and important in some instances, are generally not as important as a failing prison system. I don't think that just throwing money at the problem will make it go away, I don't expect that, whatever my eventual career may one day be... that I will ever be able to convince everyone that we must show compassion for prisoners for society to evolve.

What I believe is that time, empathy... and greater access to education will ultimately win out. Just consider how much the world has changed since public education became so much more widely available. The world may move forward slowly, but it moves forward nonetheless. There are many reasons that I am a democrat, but one of them is that I believe in progress, I believe we can, in time, move mountains and accomplish what appears to be impossible.

Perhaps we can't overhaul the justice system right away... not today. We can though, begin the process of convincing people that it should be overhauled, by sharing our knowledge of it and by having compassion for prisoners and for would be prisoners such as the person in this story.

I really should get some sleep, but I thank you for the conversation. It was thought provoking and enlightening.

[humblebum]

57. Bravo. Your statement is spot on. nt

[trailmonkee]

5. i was listning on xm....

Didnt hear the end.... But i thought it was interesting that CNN and Msnbc were carrying stories on the election and fox was airing a car chase? Well, looks like fox got their scoop... Nice.

[flamingdem]

6. They gave him the platform to kill himself and they are to blame

Disgusting. The on air chases have to stop

[JI7]

16. you are blaming fox for him kiling himself ?

there is a lot to attack Fox over but not this.

[flamingdem]

24. yes, he had the attention of the media

it happened in LA, the media gave the guy a platform to write his autobiographical death and be "immortalized" .. these people have no sense of worth.. it might be momentary so why give them the media attention if they might just give up?

I repeat. It's disgusting. Let's go back to watching people hang while we're about it

[Botany]

7. Shep Smith has class

Fox does not.

[hrmjustin]

53. I agree with you. n/t

[Grassy Knoll]

8. That was fucked. n/t

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

9. This happened in L.A. several years ago

Police were chasing a car and it stopped on a highway overpass. When the driver got out, the helicopter cameras (each station has one) zoomed in on the man as close as they could, which was appalling when he shot himself in the head.

The procedure now is to never show the criminal alone -- once the car is stopped the camera pulls back until the driver has been subdued. Only then do you zoom back in.

Most news departments also use a five second delay button during a chase.

[nolabear]

12. I remember Budd Dwyer's suicide during a press conference in PA.

That was a terrible, terrible thing. I'll give Smith all props for trying to cut away and for apologizing. It's a crazy world where we will forever be able to see things we once couldn't.

[kag]

15. Yes, props to Smith

That's the classiest thing I have EVER seen from Fox, by far. (Not saying much, I know, but he does deserve a pat on the back for taking responsibility and apologizing.)

[Posteritatis]

18. Yep. Nice to see an apology with zero ambiguity about it for once. (nt)

[diabeticman]

31. He is one of the few left on Fox that would have enough class to apologize.

[Liberalagogo]

14. WTF

is a national so-called "News" network covering a car chase? Isn't this just a local thing, unless maybe OJ is in the car, or someone prominent? The Noise channel is nothing more than a perversion of journalism.

Oh and BTW, the car chase and suicide was Obama's fault.

[MsFlorida]

17. Everyone forgetting something here

This man was so desperate he killed himself. Could have been something very simple like driving on a suspended license, something minor -- but enough that he didnt want to go back to jail or court. I've seen this desperation before for very minor things.

A life was lost, perhaps a long time ago, but still it was lost. No one should have to feel that kind of desperation.

[randome]

33. Simpler explantion: he was just fucked-up nine ways to Sunday.

I mean, why assume he is someone to be pitied? Maybe he is but maybe he isn't.

[davidthegnome]

43. TOO simple of an explanation.

Is it about taking pity on someone who has taken their own life? Or is it, perhaps, about having empathy for our fellow human beings and understanding that we have all suffered... that it is possible that at some point in our lives we might all consider doing such a thing. That many of us HAVE likely considered it at one time or another.

If by "fucked-up nine ways to Sunday." you're referring to alcohol and drug use, well, I haven't a clue about that. If you're referring to mental illness in such a way... then I have a simple explanation I'd love to share with you, but it would not be terribly civil.

[randome]

50. I would NOT make fun of someone who was mentally ill.

But no one knows why he shot himself and the truth is probably no one ever will. I'd have more than enough empathy for him if we ever found out anything about him to be empathetic about but that's not likely. But it probably wasn't 'something very simple'.

[davidthegnome]

58. In that case I apologize

It's something I take very seriously - and I'm glad that you wouldn't make fun of someone who was mentally ill.

Perhaps the way I see such things are colored by my own experience... but when I hear of someone taking their own life, the conclusion I tend to jump to is that they were mentally ill (a term containing far more stigma than it should). There are other explanations, of course, drugs... perhaps the recent diagnosis of a terminal illness, losing a loved one or a job. Such things can push one over the edge.

I do wonder if, in this case, the media - or, more appropriately, fox news - might have given this man that little extra push that pushed him over. It's damnably sad in any event, who might he have been and what might he have accomplished with his life? We'll never know. Someone that was full of life and potential could see no route to take other than taking their own life. That's always sad.

[randome]

60. Agree.

[Rmarkman]

19. Could not believe I was watching this! I never watch Fox

I am an old white guy and never watch Fox for more then 30 seconds. I was switching between MSNBC and CNN and paused and watched the car chase live trying to figure out what was going on. I could not believe they showed the perp committing suicide in living color. Smith apologized within 1 minute and said they had a 5 second delay but it did not work. If this is true I would not want to be the guy with the delay button. It sucked watching this and Fox should be highly criticized. If they only have a 5 second delay they have to look into their policies. Amazing the first time I watched Fox for more then 30 seconds and this happens.

[otohara]

21. Welcome to DU

Interesting 1st post

[bigwillq]

44. Hello

Welcome to DU!

[Canuckistanian]

46. Welcome to DU

And I agree totally. Why is there a need to devote national network time to this crap?

[gopiscrap]

66. Welcome to DU

that's what happens when you watch faux snooze, kinda sums up that whole network

[JohnnyRingo]

22. Wouldn't want to be the guy on the button

He might as well start cleaning out his desk while they're yelling at him, if he has one. At least he'll look busy.

[durablend]

30. You think they'd fire him?

They love this stuff over there...probably high-fiving each other and saying to themselves "Sure hope it was a lib!"

[JohnnyRingo]

55. They will if Shep has anything to do with it.

I saw his face, and he looked embarassed and furious. That has to ripple down to whoever was responsible.

Even Fox doesn't want their logo featured on the latest The Faces Of Death top ten DVD.

[tawadi]

67. The will fire the mid level manager, most likely

From what I've heard of Fox.

[Indi Guy]

26. Anyone stop to consider that the presence of the news chopper itself might have...

...pushed the guy over the edge?

[randome]

34. Yeah, when I see helicopers overhead, the first thing I think of is to off myself.

[Indi Guy]

42. If the guy was unstable enough to kill himself...

...he could have easily been spooked by being chased by a chopper.

[Posteritatis]

40. I doubt that. (nt)

[tanyev]

27. This is why I will not watch live car chases.

Even if they have it on delay. I'm always worried that it will end badly.

[oberliner]

32. What is the fascination with car chases?

It's not just Fox News - many news channels, especially local ones, tend to broadcast police chases from time to time. I don't get it.

[valerief]

35. At least he died with his gun and his freedumbs. That's all that matters in Merka. nt

[randome]

37. And in Amercia, too!

[valerief]

38. Bwah! Yeah, there, too!!!

[sarcasmo]

39. Fox News, always classy.

[Spirochete]

41. This was Fox News?

Well, hell that's just new fapping material for those who Tivo'ed it. These are Fox viewers, after all...

[davidpdx]

49. That's terrible

It's obvious that if they are covering something live that possibly could involve violence (like a car chase), a longer delay is needed. I'm glad I didn't see it.

[graham4anything]

52. Why are people here watching Fox?

and what do you think the stations were hoping for during the OJ chase?

did they think of that while that was happening?

Why does anyone watch a Nascar or Indy car race? To watch the crashes I assume. I don't watch so have no idea why else anyone would watch cars going round and round and round.

like the idiots that cause a traffic jam straining ones neck on the other side of the highway looking for blood after an accident on the other side.

[I love weed]

56. Oh, come on.

like the idiots that cause a traffic jam straining ones neck on the other side of the highway looking for blood after an accident on the other side.

We all look, even you. It's human nature.

Watching a car chase live is a voyeuristic thrill. And no doubt airing it is a ratings winner.

That said, I don't see any of them, since I quit watching TV some years ago.

[graham4anything]

63. ah, but I bet you watch clips on the computer or Iphone, don't you?

[randome]

64. You may be making an unwarranted assumption but...often that's right.

Not saying it's true of you, I love weed!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

54. Just watched the clip as it aired on YouTube. My comment on YouTube follows,....brace yourself....

Last edited Sat Sep 29, 2012, 12:53 AM - Edit history (1)

This was on a five second delay and due to the total incompetence of the crew, it got on the air.

Makes me want to moon FOX cameras

Edited for an update.

A reply to my post on YouTube born out by the video itself AND the one here.

FOX "News" REALLY screwed up.

They switched the feeds.

Sheppard Smith was getting the 5 second delay and the live feed was what was put on the air.

[Shitty Mitty]

61. Really wish Shepard would leave Fox

But I don't really see what the big deal is about showing the suicide. The real world ain't all sugar and puppies, and it ain't like any kids were watching it.

[Thor_MN]

62. This will get less attention than a one second "Wardrobe malfunction"

America's puritanical fundamentalist factions are much more disturbed by nudity than a gunshot death. Murder, suicide? Who cares? The sight of a bare nipple? Call the authorities!!! We need an investigation!!! Fines!!! Some needs to be punished for this!!!

[Turbineguy]

65. Fox ascribes to the thesis

Last edited Sat Sep 29, 2012, 03:39 PM - Edit history (1)

"If you die on TV, you have not died in vain. You've entertained us!"