Desperation often causes bad decisions. And in apparent desperation to improve its third place standing among broadcast networks, CBS News targeted blood thirsty viewers Friday evening. There is no better way to get  attention than to warn viewers that a report contains graphic video. In this case, the CBS  lead story was the accident that killed an Olympic luger, who lost control of his sled and was thrown head-first into a steel column supporting the track.

The CBS evening newscast Friday showed the video three times in rapid succession—once in slow motion. The other broadcast networks used the same graphic video. Shame on them. And shame on the people that find snuff video appealing. I’m not some kind of sensitive namby-pamby who turns away at the sight of violence. I have witnessed violent death over the years.

But as a journalist, I question the need to titillate viewers by showing a fatal accident in such graphic detail. Watching this stuff exposes our blood lust. Why am I a big fan of boxing? Why are NASCAR races so popular? Or cop chase shows? Certainly not for art’s sake.

In Baton Rouge in 1984, WBRZ—the local television station I worked for at the time—aired footage that was number one on the snuff hit parade for awhile. A 25-year-old martial arts instructor named Jeffery Plauche had abducted an eleven year old student and taken him to California, where the boy was molested. Arrested and extradited to Louisiana, WBRZ cameraman Abram McGull was the only photographer present when the suspect arrived at the airport.

As he was escorted in the custody of deputies at the airport, the boy’s father stepped from a phone booth and fired a single bullet to the head at close range from a :38 caliber pistol, killing Plauche instantly. Although the gunman was almost adjacent to the camera, Abe never flinched. He continued shooting video as deputies wrestled the pistol away, at which point the camera panned downward to the victim as blood spread from the wound.          

The graphic footage—a TV exclusive—was shown on WBRZ’s late news and on newscasts throughout the following day before restraint prevailed. As bad as the decision was to show the shooting multiple times in vivid detail, it gave a large number of viewers the shock-entertainment they wanted. After WBRZ stopped using the video, people were calling the station asking when it would run again. In some instances, even requesting a re-run.

The father of the molestation victim, Jeffery Doucet, avoided a prison sentence by pleading guilty to manslaughter, which resulted in five years of probation. In effect, he judge and prosecutor deemed the revenge killing as justifiable homicide. Doucet’s son, Jody, subsequently graduated from LSU and became an  advocate on behalf of sex victims. He has appeared on many TV shows and given lectures.

Because of Abe McGull’s coolness under fire, so to speak, he received numerous job offers from local stations and networks. The cameraman opted instead to attend law school. Since graduation, he has spent most of his legal career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Orleans. As a witness to what amounted to a snuff job, Abe, the prosecutor, has been critical in the past of the no-jail-time, hand-slap given Doucet. The former photographer must still be cool under fire. He just completed his third tour of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Military Judge Advocate’s office.

And finally, a confession of hypocrisy. When news anchors warn that graphic video is forthcoming, my interest peaks. Like most people, I watch and then in self-righteous indignation ask friends, “Did you see that story last night, etc. etc? Why would they show that kind of crap?” 

In era of surveillance cameras and minicams, unfortunately, television viewers are exposed to so much real-life violence, our gag reflexes no longer function. That cannot be healthy.