and the media/public addiction and huge monetary value to "being first".

Even simple (if there is such a thing) car accidents or domestic eye witnesses have multiple and often conflicting versions. It comes with traumatic violence.

Maybe tell the media to go pound sand until all the facts are in??? I know, pipe dream.

I don't know how much pain the caused with their inaccurate reporting. But, there are stories out now that are completely false and it's unlikely most people will bother waiting for the facts. One of the worst things IMO is that it was reported that the shooter was autistic or an aspie. That is just what we need is people thinking that autistic and people with asperger's are violent. Or that people with mental health issues are more violent than the general public. I don't think there is any way to measure the damage something like that causes.

I keep hoping we are evolving, but it seems rather dire at times. I keep remembering the old Billie Holliday/Blood, Sweat and Tears Song ... God Bless the Child...here or in the other world.

mental health to divert from the gun issue.

You can even see it on DU.

no guns no shooting period

Everything the media reported for the first 6 hours or so was false. Why don't they just wait until they know what really happened?

I blame mass, instant communication culture. People want fresh info, NOW. Never mind whether or not its accurate -- people go nuts if they don't hear the "latest, this just in, exclusive..."

NEVER, EVER trust the news accounts in the first two days to get the basic facts right.

News organizations these days are so rabid for a scoop on ANY detail, I think they just make shit up.

I'll read the true stories tomorrow.

30+- years ago, before 24/7 'news,' when I was close to some stories and the vehicles were newspapers, largely local, no stories about which I knew something were immediately correct, and/or they contained significant errors of fact.

as the smirking President-elect.

...both about the nature of establishing the facts in a story and about the political exploitation of specific situations. In the U.S. tens of thousands are killed each year in gun attacks or accidents, tens of thousands die due to inadequate medical care, but has either subject attracted the notice the right-wing press and politicians have given to the attack on the consulate in Benghazi and Susan Rice's press appearances following?

which requires great care.

But that's just a statistic. One senseless death is completely unacceptable.

thanks for bringing it up!

They also implicated the wrong person.

was not reliable.

You write that "the attack took place right here, in Sandy Hook, CT...."

Actually, it took place in Newtown, CT, at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

I love nitpicking, and this is the rare occasion when I can nitpick an OP and yet be supportive.