Debate rages over whether to name Colorado shooter

While the Colorado massacre continues to top the news
nationwide, a big debate is underway about whether to use
the suspect’s name when discussing the shootings that
killed 12 and injured dozens of others.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has refused to mention
James Holmes by name in public appearances since the
shooting.

“In my house, we’re just going to call him ‘suspect A,’ ”
Hickenlooper said at a memorial service.

On the night of the shooting, the brother of victim
Jessica Ghawi appeared on Anderson Cooper’s CNN show,
urging people not to name the shooter and forget him. Fox
News blacked out his name when it showed documents about
the case.

But where do you draw the line? It can be a difficult
decision, especially as the lines blur between news and
discussion on many news outlets.

“Journalists report the who, what, when, where, why, how,”
Al Tompkins, of the Poynter Institute, a Florida-based
journalism school, tells CBS News.

“Politicians can do what they want to do but that’s not a
guide for us. Our job is to report who was arrested, how
they did what they did – all of that is a legitimate
function of journalism,” says Tompkins.

It’s a debate being played out across the shows on 97.3
KIRO FM.

Ron Upshaw, co-host of the Ron and Don Show, has vowed not
to name Holmes.

But Linda Thomas of Seattle’s Morning News agrees with
Tompkins, arguing she has an obligation to use Holmes at
times when reporting or even discussing the story.

“It’s news. What I say, what I tell people about this
case does not have a direct effect on him.”

There’s plenty of debate among Thomas’ thousands of
Twitter followers as well:

“No difference he’s in the history books, like it or not.
People who want to forget him will” – Jeff Young

“It gives him power. Does it make a difference? If it
stops one copy cat it makes a difference” – Candy

“Bleeding heart liberals think they’re accomplishing
something by not naming him, it’s selfish on their part” –
Elizabeth

It’s not an issue that will be settled soon, as the story
will continue to dominate the news for some time to come.

“It’s not going to mean anything in the grand scheme of
things. If people feel a little better about it (not
naming the shooter.) But his name is out there. He is part
of the history books. It’s a fact we are in the news
business,” Tangney argues.

What do you think?