NABJ on Use of Victim’s Image in GA Shooting: News Outlets Must Take Steps to Minimize Harm

NABJ on Use of Victim’s Image in GA Shooting: News Outlets Must Take Steps to Minimize Harm

As news outlets continue to report on the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, we encourage our colleagues to take all necessary measures to minimize any potential harm by ensuring that all forms of content shared are accurate.

NABJ was concerned to learn that local news station WSB-TV posted a 14-year-old Black male’s image on social media that portrayed him as the suspect rather than the victim of the shooting.

While the station acknowledged the display of his image alongside information about the suspect as being inadvertent and said it swiftly removed the post followed by an issued apology, we as an industry must critically examine the impact of such mistakes and how to prevent them. The victim’s image quickly gained global attention as the suspect and became a trending topic on X.

Today, NABJ leaders engaged with WSB-TV leadership to determine how this situation occurred. We appreciate the station’s willingness to have an open dialogue in determining the root of the problem, as well as the acknowledgment that it was taking steps to remedy it.

WSB-TV also provided the following statement, which is what was shared on social media previously: “In a tweet about the Apalachee High School shooting posted by WSB-TV, the content and photo of one of the victims were unintentionally presented on X in a way that made it appear as if the victim was the shooter. The post was removed shortly after it went live and immediately after we were alerted to the situation. We deeply regret this error and sincerely apologize to the victim’s family and loved ones.”

We also received reports this afternoon that a Google search revealed a FOX News online post also used the victim’s image with a headline solely focused on the suspect. This is an example of the importance of responsible journalism—from the newsroom to the web. We will look further into this matter.

Our communities expect news outlets to be trustworthy sources, and social media users quickly share the content they publish as fact. To combat even accidental misinformation, we must be careful stewards of the information we release and ensure appropriate training is in place not just for the reporters, editors, and producers but also for the digital and marketing teams.

In this instance, we even saw outlets and personalities that focus on sensationalism quickly use the image to spread disinformation. Misinformation and disinformation can play a role in further traumatizing the families of victims, their communities, and news audiences.

These incidents, along with many others over time, have created a sense of distrust in media among audiences, especially among the Black community. We must address this issue with urgency and work to rebuild trust through our internal processes.

“Even when Black people are victims, they’re not treated as such,” one user wrote in response to the WSB-TV posting.

In an age where images of Black men and boys are still unfortunately associated with violence and crime, we remind our colleagues in the industry to be sensitive and aware.