“NBC was right to cover the story, and showing the video was a necessary news decision.”
Wrong. The line between journalism and voyeurism is perfectly clear. Of course NBC had to cover the story. There is no need to show the man’s death except to solicit ratings. The purpose of journalism is to convey information to the uninformed. We know he’s dead. The journalistic value in actually airing the footage is zero. The editors at NBC will probably cloak their decision in some lofty language about journalism and the duty of the press. The reality is, it was unnecessary, gratuitous and irresponsible. Period.