[Update- 4/9/12] Talk Left does some LexisNexis research and finds previous instances the edited Zimmerman 911 clip was used by NBC, showing a systematic failure, in five separate instances, by the network, that goes well beyond one "producers" incompetence.
[Updated 4/6/12] NBC claims, after a "probe" on how this call was edited and then shown, that it was a mistake and not deliberate, even though it was a "seasoned" producer that was responsible. (Source- Reuters)
[Update #2 on 4/6/12] New York Times' Media Decoder reports the producer responsible has been fired.
Original post below
NBC tells Washington Post's Erik Wemple that they will be conducting an "internal investigation into the editorial process surrounding this particular story" from a Today segment where they deliberately edited a 911 call by George Zimmerman just before he fatally shot Trayvon Martin.
The edit was noticed and broadcast by Sean Hannity:
In the NBC segment, Zimmerman says: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good. He looks black.”
The full version, though, unfolds like this:
Zimmerman: “This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.”
911 operator: “Okay. And this guy, is he white black or Hispanic?”
Zimmerman: “He looks black.”
With tensions running high, information and misinformation being thrown about, accusations of outright murder being publicly stated before the full investigation by authorities has even been completed, politicians using this tragic event for their own purposes, bounties being offered in a lynch-mob mentality by The Black Panthers, this latest antic by NBC News shows media is out of control giving a whole new meaning to the expression "if it bleeds it leads."
At this point the mainstream media is providing the knife and stabbing someone just to make them bleed so they have their lead.
[WATCH]- On Thursday, Sean Hannity and guest Brent Bozell played the NBC version of the 911 call and compared it with the unedited version.
The City of Sanford website has a page for the Trayvon Martin investigation where they provide consolidated information with regard to this tragic incident, including 911 call, security camera footage, reports and more, found HERE.
Perhaps more people should follow the investigation closely rather than getting partial, edited information from the mainstream media.
[Update] MediaIte nails the problem with the type of so-called coverage NBC practiced with their misleading, highly inflammatory selective editing of the 911 call:
By announcing an internal investigation, NBC has acknowledged the problem. The investigation may find one or several individuals who, in the zealous pursuit of ratings, momentarily forgot about the standards of journalistic ethics that should be applied to a pending criminal case which has also become a national scandal.
What the investigation is unlikely to reveal, however, is the increasingly evident appearance of an institutional proclivity to try George Zimmerman in the court of public opinion. MSNBC’s, and to a lesser extent, NBC’s viewers have responded positively to the editorial voice on the analysis of the Zimmerman case their ratings have jumped as a result of so/me of the host’s rather sensationalist coverage. That does not make it decent or right.
Now a selectively edited call that explicitly misrepresents the facts has been presented to the public as news. That’s where NBC has smartly drawn the line. Rational, unprejudiced coverage of this tragic and inflammatory event must prevail here — before the passions surrounding this case spiral beyond NBC’s, or anyone else’s, control.
Some might say it is already out of control as some people have decided to declare guilt or innocence based solely on what they have seen reported in the media.
Those that dare say let the investigation unfold before rushing to judgement are automatically accused of "defending Zimmerman", comments throughout the online community are spewing words like murder, racism and racial tensions are skyrocketing through the roof.
This has already spiraled way out of control.
Related:
Trayvon Martin, Outrage and Geraldo Rivera's Stupidity
If They Were White They Would Be Called A 'Lynch Mob' And Everyone Would Scream Racism
Evidence: Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, Spike Lee, The Black Panthers and Hate Crimes
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