Media's role in BTK scrutinized - OMG!

Just came across this LA Times article from today on the BTK case and the media's role.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=716&e=26&u=/latimests/20050303/ts_latimes/mediasroleinbtkcasescrutinized

snip>
I wonder now whether we did the right thing, of editing the evidence," Laviana said. "Would the police have been able to find a suspect sooner? Did we do the public a disservice?"

This week, the Eagle and KAKE-TV — an ABC affiliate — revealed communications they had kept hidden. The evidence BTK sent to news outlets included a doll with a bag over its head and its hands tied behind its back, postcards that seemed to refer to packages from the killer and a puzzle filled with clues to his identity.

The puzzle was part of a package sent last year to KAKE. Hidden in it were the numbers "6220" and the letters "DRADER." Suspect Dennis L. Rader's house address was 6220.

"Now I'm really wondering if I made a mistake and the police made a mistake by not releasing this information sooner," Beattie said. "It's just so obvious when you look at it now. He's got his name and address right there."

Fucking. Pricks.

No, excuse me. Three words: Fucking. Self-serving. Pricks.

As fine an example of what is fundamentally wrong with the media as I have ever seen.