*After Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin revealed the identity of the gunman who opened fire at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon on Thursday, some media personalities went out of their way not to report his name, unwilling to participate in his plotted notoriety from the carnage.
One such journalist was Fox News host Megyn Kelly, who got into it with her friend and rival, CNN anchor Don Lemon. Via Twitter, Kelly trying to convince Lemon that reporting the shooter’s name is only playing into master plan.
“[Authorities] know who the shooter is,” Lemon said. “We have named it, Chris Harper Mercer, 26 years old.”
Lemon said that while the sheriff refused to identify the shooter, “unfortunately we … must identify him because that is our job.”
Kelly tweeted to express her support for Hanlin’s decision, and blasted Lemon for naming Mercer.
Sheriff Hanlin re: #OregonShooting – “I will not name the shooter. I will not give him the credit he probably sought.” GOOD FOR HIM!
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 2, 2015
My friend @donlemon says “we (TV news) must identify him b/c that is our job.” No. Print media can. TV gives infamy he prob desired. Don’t!
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 2, 2015
Hi Megyn. My heart agrees with you, but I believe we (journalists) must name shooters. Sparingly though. https://t.co/3UVmixNECP
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) October 2, 2015
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