Extra N Word: A rush to judgment

The recent death of Heath Ledger has been covered mercilessly by the media. In a rush to break the story, all kinds of misinformation was given out by “reputable” media publications and broadcasters.

The New York Times was the first to report that he was found dead in mini-mogul Mary Kate Olsen’s apartment. CNN, MSNBC and TMZ quickly picked up and circulated this information. Wrong. Olsen and Ledger lived in the same New York City block and Olsen was at Sundance, far away from Ledger. MSNBC and Fox reported on their Web sites that actress Michelle Williams was his wife. Wrong. They were live-in lovers that had a baby and recently broke up as many couples do. CNN initially reported that there were over-the-counter pills found near his dead body. Other media outlets followed. Eventually, that story changed to Ledger being found surrounded by prescription and over-the-counter pills.

Overzealous reporters and experts suggested that there were unconfirmed reports that Ledger had a drug problem, unconfirmed being the operative word. Some pontificated that his recent role as the Joker in the next Batman installment led to his spiraling into a very dark place, which may have caused him to overdose or commit suicide, even though an autopsy had yet to be performed or a cause of death determined. Others used Ledgers interviews to suggest that he had overdosed on sleeping pills, because he had mentioned previously that he had taken the prescription sleep medication Ambien to address a bout with insomnia. Depending on which media outlet you visit, Ledger’s body was found naked face down in the bed, partially clothed in the bed, naked on the floor or naked at the foot of the bed.

All of this hoopla, while a young, brilliant actor lay dead, never thinking of the pain that this event, compounded by the innuendo and proliferation of false information would cause his family. He is the father of an 18-month-old who will never see her dad again. He is the son and brother of a grieving family. His humanity has been gutted in the rush to judgment to sell more advertising. It is shameful that a profession whose core values are objectivity and accuracy would go about covering this story in such an irresponsible way.

Traditional media outlets often take stabs at tabloid media outlets, but it has become increasingly clear that they are one in the same. The line separating the two has disappeared and the lengths that reporters are going to create stories is ridiculous. One reporter suggested that actor Owen Wilson’s suicide attempt set the stage for this incident. WTF? What does one have to do with the other? Since the cause of death has not been determined, is it fair to attribute suicide to a man who may or may not have intended to take his life? It is unethical and unnecessary. The media has reached a new low in news coverage and should revisit the ethical guidelines of journalism that it likes to pretend still exist.

This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2008.