A Capital Gazette photojournalist shut down CNN’s Brian Stelter after he asked if “anti-media rhetoric” could have contributed to the shooting at the newsroom.
WATCH:
A gunman who had a longstanding grudge against the Capital Gazette killed five people in their newsroom on Thursday. Many were quick to blame Trump’s rhetoric against “fake news” and some in the press as a motive behind the shooting. Others questioned if Trump wold re-examine his rhetoric in the wake of the shooting. (RELATED: Journos, Leftists Blame Trump For Maryland Newsroom Shooting)
“Reliable Sources” host Brian Stelter asked a question in that vein on his show Sunday while interviewing Capital Gazette photojournalist Joshua McKerrow.
“Joshua, do you feel that it was just an isolated incident, a suspect with a grudge against the paper, or do you feel there is something larger here about anti-media rhetoric becoming louder and more dangerous?” Stelter asked.
McKerrow paused for a moment before responding, “I think there’s always been threats to newsrooms. It’s always been something you’ve known in the back of your mind.”
McKerrow, clearly still shaken by the incident, cautioned against making judgments about what inspired the shooter before having the facts.
“It’s not for me to report whether the rhetoric has raised or had anything to contribute with this,” he explained. “I don’t know the facts. I know our job as a newspaper and as journalists is to communicate and create empathy.”