2008 Woodie Awards
"Did the media lead you to believe that John Mark Karr was guilty?"
Eric Barocio
Issue date: 9/6/06 Section: Opinion
For some time Americans have relied on the mass media industry for news on national
and world events. Those who still partake in the tradition of reading or watching the news know of the popularity of the JonBenet Ramsey murder case and the controversial ordeal of discovering the murderer.
The suspicion of whether the parents of JonBenet Ramsey brutally murdered their
daughter subsided when John Mark Karr was arrested in Thailand. He was then
extradited to Boulder, Colorado where authorities took custody of Karr and arrested him for possession child pornography. Karr is a man that the media had deemed to be a prime suspect, and if not, the definite murderer of former-child-beauty-queen JonBenet Ramsey.
Up until recently, Karr was sensationalized as a man who not only obsessively murdered
JonBenet, but also reveled in taking full responsibility for this action (whether he is lying or truly believes he did it is another question). The latter is only possible because Karr was acquitted of the murder charge last week due to inconclusive DNA evidence.
The media provoked this as a final resolution to the mystery, but their conclusion was clearly based on the little evidence available. This lack of evidence led those who watched, read, and heard the news to formulate their opinions based on biased information.
At first observation of John Karr, I concluded exactly what most viewers probably did. My personal view of this man was steered clear away from any connotation of innocence.
From what I read, heard, and viewed on television led me to believe that Karr was the murderer because he was profiled to be a man who knew every specific details of the
crime.
Without careful investigation, I myself fell into the realm of belief that the case would be closed and that justice would be served. However, that was not the outcome.
Americans all across the nation, including myself, were once again fooled by the
exploitation and improper deliverance of information by the media.
Karr may just be an unclean evil man or perhaps he is a murderer, but not pertaining to the Ramsey case. His confession alone is not enough to convict him even though the
media and thereby many other people did.
I partly blame the media for my judgment of Karr because it is their responsibility to
better inform the public with facts and not hearsay. More importantly, I blame myself (as many Americans should when dealing with controversial news) because it is our duty as to seek the truth. From that standpoint, we as a people can formulate opinions with
respect and power.
and world events. Those who still partake in the tradition of reading or watching the news know of the popularity of the JonBenet Ramsey murder case and the controversial ordeal of discovering the murderer.
The suspicion of whether the parents of JonBenet Ramsey brutally murdered their
daughter subsided when John Mark Karr was arrested in Thailand. He was then
extradited to Boulder, Colorado where authorities took custody of Karr and arrested him for possession child pornography. Karr is a man that the media had deemed to be a prime suspect, and if not, the definite murderer of former-child-beauty-queen JonBenet Ramsey.
Up until recently, Karr was sensationalized as a man who not only obsessively murdered
JonBenet, but also reveled in taking full responsibility for this action (whether he is lying or truly believes he did it is another question). The latter is only possible because Karr was acquitted of the murder charge last week due to inconclusive DNA evidence.
The media provoked this as a final resolution to the mystery, but their conclusion was clearly based on the little evidence available. This lack of evidence led those who watched, read, and heard the news to formulate their opinions based on biased information.
At first observation of John Karr, I concluded exactly what most viewers probably did. My personal view of this man was steered clear away from any connotation of innocence.
From what I read, heard, and viewed on television led me to believe that Karr was the murderer because he was profiled to be a man who knew every specific details of the
crime.
Without careful investigation, I myself fell into the realm of belief that the case would be closed and that justice would be served. However, that was not the outcome.
Americans all across the nation, including myself, were once again fooled by the
exploitation and improper deliverance of information by the media.
Karr may just be an unclean evil man or perhaps he is a murderer, but not pertaining to the Ramsey case. His confession alone is not enough to convict him even though the
media and thereby many other people did.
I partly blame the media for my judgment of Karr because it is their responsibility to
better inform the public with facts and not hearsay. More importantly, I blame myself (as many Americans should when dealing with controversial news) because it is our duty as to seek the truth. From that standpoint, we as a people can formulate opinions with
respect and power.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Kristin Williams
posted 2/15/07 @ 1:48 PM PST
No I do not think that John Mark Karr isn't Guilty I find him Not Guilty for the death of Johnbenet Ramesy he said it to him self too it was an anncident. (Continued…)
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