“George Zimmerman bursts from the shadows as he releases his first statement since his acquittal in the death of Trayvon Martin,” mrctv reported Tuesday.
“He recorded a video of himself answering questions that were asked by
his lawyer, Howard Iken, in what looked to be the attorney's office.”
Other media noticed as well. BET picked up on it. As did International Business Times. And Huffington Post. And CBS in Tampa Bay/Sarasota. And Patch. And the local paper. And PJMedia. And Fox News Latino.
The thing is, this was not Zimmerman’s first public statement. He appeared on the nationally-syndicated Armed American Radio program with host Mark Walters on December 14 of last year, in Hour Two of the program (click AAR link to listen).
“During the live broadcast with in-studio guests famed self-defense expert and trainer Massad Ayoob, champion shooter Gail Pepin, and instructor Claude Werner, the group received a call from George Zimmerman,” Walters wrote. “The result of that call-in is an on-air conversation that every American citizen, particularly those who carry a firearm or are even considering it, MUST HEAR!”
The point here is not to renew debates about Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin, nor to delve into the controversy his latest statement is prompting. The point is merely to document how, despite publicity releases sent to all major media announcing Zimmerman’s appearance on a program broadcast in hundreds of markets nationwide, there were crickets. That many in the mainstream press remain oblivious and deliberately indifferent shows how little many actually put into their reporting. That’s probably what accounts for this latest statement being represented as a first.
Through “sins of omission” or just being unaware, the press keeps information from reaching all who rely on them as their major sources for “popular” news and opinions. Perhaps those who do depend exclusively on "Authorized Journalists" deserve what they get, but their votes cancel out those of the better informed and more involved, and that’s something those in power are counting on.
Other media noticed as well. BET picked up on it. As did International Business Times. And Huffington Post. And CBS in Tampa Bay/Sarasota. And Patch. And the local paper. And PJMedia. And Fox News Latino.
The thing is, this was not Zimmerman’s first public statement. He appeared on the nationally-syndicated Armed American Radio program with host Mark Walters on December 14 of last year, in Hour Two of the program (click AAR link to listen).
“During the live broadcast with in-studio guests famed self-defense expert and trainer Massad Ayoob, champion shooter Gail Pepin, and instructor Claude Werner, the group received a call from George Zimmerman,” Walters wrote. “The result of that call-in is an on-air conversation that every American citizen, particularly those who carry a firearm or are even considering it, MUST HEAR!”
The point here is not to renew debates about Zimmerman or Trayvon Martin, nor to delve into the controversy his latest statement is prompting. The point is merely to document how, despite publicity releases sent to all major media announcing Zimmerman’s appearance on a program broadcast in hundreds of markets nationwide, there were crickets. That many in the mainstream press remain oblivious and deliberately indifferent shows how little many actually put into their reporting. That’s probably what accounts for this latest statement being represented as a first.
Through “sins of omission” or just being unaware, the press keeps information from reaching all who rely on them as their major sources for “popular” news and opinions. Perhaps those who do depend exclusively on "Authorized Journalists" deserve what they get, but their votes cancel out those of the better informed and more involved, and that’s something those in power are counting on.
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