Black Friday shoppers saved money and lost sleep on the biggest shopping day of the year, but they also risked getting shot, robbed or even pepper sprayed. Various accounts of violent crimes have been reported since Nov. 25, including a grandfather being beaten unconscious for supposedly shoplifting. The man was tackled after tucking a video game in his waste band to save his young grandson from being trampled by crowds. A woman in Los Angeles doused 20 people with pepper spray to gain access to deals at Walmart. The woman later turned herself in and was released pending investigation. Police are undecided if they will press charges.
ABC News featured appropriate coverage of this year's shopping frenzy, even incorporating the Occupy movement into one of their Black Friday broadcasts. I found it very refreshing that a news organization would find a way to connect hard news with seasonal interest pieces such as a shopping "holiday."
The sensationalized day saw record sales this year with many stores opening earlier than ever. Similarly, the crimes accompanying the sales seem to have increased as well. With people being trampled, shot and even killed, one must wonder, are the savings worth it? Is the time of journalists better spent doing their jobs elsewhere? With stories like this dominating the news each year around this time, is it possible that the media's coverage is only perpetuating the madness?
ABC News featured appropriate coverage of this year's shopping frenzy, even incorporating the Occupy movement into one of their Black Friday broadcasts. I found it very refreshing that a news organization would find a way to connect hard news with seasonal interest pieces such as a shopping "holiday."
The sensationalized day saw record sales this year with many stores opening earlier than ever. Similarly, the crimes accompanying the sales seem to have increased as well. With people being trampled, shot and even killed, one must wonder, are the savings worth it? Is the time of journalists better spent doing their jobs elsewhere? With stories like this dominating the news each year around this time, is it possible that the media's coverage is only perpetuating the madness?