Journalists' deaths spotlight social media's role in tragedy

The deaths of two Virginia journalists Wednesday are raising questions about the role social media played in the tragedy. Reporter Allison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were fatally shot during a

News 12 Staff

Aug 28, 2015, 1:51 AM

Updated 3,408 days ago

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The deaths of two Virginia journalists Wednesday are raising questions about the role social media played in the tragedy.
Reporter Allison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were fatally shot during a live broadcast Wednesday morning.
Like many others, Iona College professor Nadine Barnett-Cosby learned through social media about the death of the journalists.
Barnett-Cosby, who teaches mass communications, says it's also disturbing that the killer, Vester Flanagan, posted the shooting on social media.
"It's a disaster," she says. "It's really like a claim to fame for these people who commit crimes and put information or visuals like this on social media."
Barnett-Cosby says it's not an indictment of social media, but she is concerned that the attack may motivate a copycat killer.