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Virginia on-air shooting: Assassination?

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by mpcincal, Aug 26, 2015.

  1. mpcincal

    mpcincal Well-Known Member

    I wasn't sure if this would be appropriate in the Sports and News thread, so I'll address it here:

    During the course of coverage of the tragic situation in Virginia, I've heard Shepard Smith from Fox News (yeah, I know) and a CBS reporter on our local news broadcast refer to the slaying of Alison Parker and Adam Ward as an "assassination."

    Is that really the correct term for this? The AP stylebook says the term refers to a murder "only if it involves the murder of a politically important or prominent individual by surprise attack."

    It was definitely a surprise attack, and a case could be made that Parker was a prominent person in that market, but I don't think "assassination" applies here. Am I missing something?
     
    mpcincal, Aug 26, 2015
    #1
  2. Riptide

    Riptide Well-Known Member

    It's totally incorrect.
    It was more of an execution.
     
    Riptide, Aug 26, 2015
    #2
  3. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Seems like more of a workplace violence crime of opportunity. Not an assassination.
     
    Ace, Aug 26, 2015
    #3
  4. Kayaugstin Kott

    Kayaugstin Kott Member

    I would say it is not an assassination.
     
    Kayaugstin Kott, Aug 27, 2015
    #4
  5. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    Terrorism.
     
    Football_Bat, Aug 27, 2015
    #5
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