Bearing Witness Podcast: A three-part series on Columbine and the news media
Teacher Judy Greco is overcome with emotion as she describes the events at Columbine High School to a police officer. She was among the first to be rescued. (Photo by Shaun Stanley, The Denver Post)
In a three-part series, The Denver Post examines the news coverage behind the Columbine High School shooting, with interviews from the people who were there and those affected by the tragedy.
In Part 1, “The Day Of,” Amy Brothers and Kyle Newman look back at the events on the day of the shooting that left 13 people dead and forever changed a community. Among those interviewed are former Denver Post visual journalist Shaun Stanley — one of the first media members to arrive on the scene — as well former Denver7 reporter Mitch Jeliker and veteran Post breaking news reporter Kieran Nicholson.
In Part 2, “The Follow-Up,” Amy Brothers and Kyle Newman consider the media’s reporting in the days and weeks immediately following the massacre, including the search for reasons why it happened, how victims’ families were approached in the wake of the shooting and the sheer volume of coverage that was produced.
In Part 3, “The Changing Conversation,” Amy Brothers and Kyle Newman delve into how the media landscape has changed since the tragedy and how news outlets have evolved in the way they cover such events. This includes discussion of the “No Notoriety” movement — a campaign drawn into sharp focus just this week after a Florida teen “infatuated with Columbine” flew into Denver on a one-way ticket and immediately bought a shotgun, prompting a “massive manhunt” that closed schools throughout the metro area.
This podcast was originally published on The Denver Post. To see a collection of Stanley’s photos from Columbine, click here.