accurately reporting in Fort Hood shooting

As the U.S. government quietly deciphers the mass shooting on 5 November at Fort Hood Texas that claimed the lives of thirteen people with a further twenty-eight wounded, many questions remain on both the incident and media coverage. Though the details of the killing rampage of thirty-nine year-old Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has been reported accurately, media commentary in many corners has been lacking and oddly pointed towards easing tension of a potentially inflammatory situation, rather the report on the news in a professional manner.

Though many organizations are receiving a failing grade with this event, both the New York Times and Washington Post are amongst the few who are pushing up the bar and being the guiding light for others to exemplify. While it seems much of the media has been handed the script of not inciting anti-Muslim commentary with accurate reporting of events around the mass killing, it is absolutely necessary that the public knows the truth and both of these organizations are doing yeoman duty that further demonstrates the need for daily print media.

David Johnston and Scott Shane of the New York Times have accurately reported the events which includes the suspects ties to a "radical cleric in Yemen known for his incendiary anti-American teachings". Equally stated Dana Priest's of the Washington Post reporting on the suspects lecturing to supervisors of fellow Muslims ability to "morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims", further demonstrates top shelf journalistic standards.

Sadly much of the media received a failing grade in this situation as they were afraid to report on the cold hard realities of this horrible event as it will stir anger in the community. Though many will question whether this event was a lone gunman's terrorist act or whether his ties Anwar al-Awlaki run deeper and this was a planned event, many very serious questions need to be asked of domestic security and counter-terrorism units. Though words do little to stem the pain of those who lost loved ones during this act, it is the responsibility of journalists to report on it accurately. While this event will naturally "stir the pot" and justifiably so I might add considering the amount of bloodshed, many questions need to be asked of the complete lack of thorough investigation by military security and of-course, rooting out the cause of the suspects action . It is the responsibility of the media to assume the mantle of responsibility to report on the news accurately in a fair and unbiased manner.