TV journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward were doing their jobs when their lives were snuffed out by former colleague and anchorman Vester Flanagan, 41, also known as Bryce Williams. (Photo : Twitter)
As social media and newsrooms in the United States and other parts of the world are abuzz with their takes on the on-air shooting of journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward, USA Network which was set to air "Mr. Robot" has been quick to respond.
"Mr. Robot is a hacker drama about a mentally unstable computer programmer recruited by an anarchist, played by Christian Slater. The season finale has been postponed owing to a graphic scene that has a similarity to the real-life event.
"Mr. Robot' season 1 finale will air on Sept. 2 instead out of respect for the bereaved families, colleagues, and other people still reeling from the tragedy.
People from all corners of the world have expressed condolences and offered prayers to the families of the victims through WDBJ-TV in Franklin County, Virginia. WDBJ7 expressed its gratitude to all those who have sent gestures of sympathy and support.
WDBJ-TV has paid tribute to Parker and Ward, who were shot to death by former station employee Vester L. Flanagan II. Flanagan had accused the station of racism, and had mentioned in his lawsuit the anguish and financial setbacks he suffered as a result of how the station treated him, Mirror reported.
The station also noted the speech made by President Barack Obama in the aftermath of the tragedy, which led to a barrage of comments, including denouncements of racism from all angles. One person tweeted that "the only racism is the one he (the gunman) created in his corrupt mind."
In other news, media's glorification of gruesome killings has long been decried. Continuous reportage replete with images of killings and their perpetrators "romanticize them" and encourage imitation, Rolling Stone reported.
The recent event that sent a ripple of strong sentiments across the world also draws attention to seemingly normal yet deeply disturbed people lurking out in the streets or in the workplace.
