Media Disaster: Journalism No More: "The (NPR) Rush to Kill "Team
sent 10/25/2023
To: "The Rush to Kill "Team (The Team)
WFIU had George Hale covers federal death row, researcher Cathy Knapp, News Director Sara Wittmeyer, Editor Perry Metz
and
please forward to all others, including:
Graham Smith and Meg Anderson from the NPR Investigations Desk as well as Eva Tesfaye, Lauren Gonzales, Adelina Lancianese and Argin Hutchins
Subject: Media Disaster: Journalism No More - "The (NPR) Rush to Kill " Team (The Team)
RE: "The Rush to Kill" series by NPR station WFIU
From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
PREFACE:
The more time, effort and resources expended, on death penalty stories, the more likely it is to produce an anti-death penalty media disaster, devoid of balance, honesty, research, both fact checked and vetted, and with critical thinking.
It is not that such elements are forgotten . . . they appear, intentionally, avoided, as I detail.
I consider balance and honesty, together, in that different perspectives, by equally, informed persons, should be interviewed and presented to the public, in such a series as this. Journalism. Schmurmalism.
I would ask you to read the provided links, but it would be a wasted suggestion.
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Here are my submitted comments/questions. Because of your online restrictions, I added some additional, here:
Introducing: Rush to Kill
Justice delayed is justice denied. I suspect it never entered The Team's thoughts.
1) What was the average time on death row, prior to execution, for those 13?
2) Why was there a 17 year pause in executions?
3) Aren't they supposed to be executed, after exhausting appeals?
4) Why was there a delay, after exhausting appeals?
Virginia has executed 113 murderers, within 7 years of appeals, on average, since 1976. How? Responsible judges, who are the case managers.
No interest by The Team?
Episode 1: The Gold Standard
Nothing but anti-death penalty:
Besides concentrating on two anti-death penalty candidates, Biden and Harris, you forgot to mention that increased incarceration, among other issues, resulted in 40-60 lows in crime, in 2014, exactly what the black mayors of high crime cities had hoped for and had lobbied for, in supporting the Crime Bill pushed by Biden.
Not important to The Team?
Of course you found a loved one of a murder victim, in a capital case, who didn't want the death penalty. The Team required it.
These were avoided:
95-99% of loved ones/survivors in capital murders support execution
Poll: Death Penalty
600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
30 Examples: How Death Penalty Abolitionists Value Murderers More Than Their Innocent Victims:
AKA - Full Rebuttal of Sir Richard Branson & His Death Penalty Comments
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The Death Penalty: A Repudiation of Journalism, by Journalists?
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Foster, the anti-death penalty defense counsel, that The Team interviewed, spoke, extensively, about the racism of the death penalty.
And The Team loved it. How do I know? Because they chose to avoid this:
RACE & THE DEATH PENALTY: A REBUTTAL TO THE RACISM CLAIMS
It is just one anti-death penalty moment after another, as The Team chose, intentionally. As Foster said: "There is no doubt about that".
Besides the reporter talk, this episode ended with more anti-death penalty lawyering, none of which The Team challenged, of course.
Both the method of execution, as well as the drug used, have been a very sound, successful combination (2). See Texas. The Team couldn't.
One grotesque lawyer (who was that?) stated that having her client on the execution gurney, for two hours, was worse than anything that any of her clients had done (in murdering their innocent victims).
Repulsive, of course. The Team let it slide, of course. To repeat:
30 Examples: How Death Penalty Abolitionists (and The Team) Value Murderers More Than Their Innocent Victims:
AKA - Full Rebuttal of Sir Richard Branson & His Death Penalty Comments
Episode 2: Inventing Closure
Anti-death penalty only.
The Team avoided the "closures" of execution. No need to ask why.
IS EXECUTION CLOSURE? Of course
The Team, only, interviewed anti-death penalty academics, attorneys and activists, as planned. I debated Richard Burr, on the death penalty, BTW.
95-99% of loved ones/survivors in capital murders support execution
Poll: Death Penalty
The Team?
Your audio was "Do you believe in grace and forgiveness of sins, or not"? (I missed who stated it)
Sharp: The question was juvenile. The primary grace is eternity in Christ, after death. And forgiveness and sanction are never mutually exclusive, but, instead, work very well, together, as detailed, in response to both:
FORGIVENESS and MURDER
and
The Death Penalty: Mercy, Expiation, Redemption & Salvation
Someone stated - people of color are, usually, a higher population of death row than whites. And, of course, The Team replied . . . not . . .
RACE & THE DEATH PENALTY: A REBUTTAL TO THE RACISM CLAIMS
Your anti-death penalty person is unaware that many murderers have no guilt, whatsoever. Look up sociopaths, murderers and narcissists.
Your anti-death penalty person stated that executions are revenge. Did The Team think about that? No.
The Death Penalty: Neither Hatred nor Revenge
Complete rebuttal of Garland. here (2).
===============
1) Rebuttal: Botched Executions
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2017/01/rebuttal-botched-executions.html
http://prodpinnc.blogspot.com/2017/01/rebuttal-botched-executions.html
2) Garland is just like Breyer
Justice Breyer's Errors in Death Penalty Assessment
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600+ pro death penalty quotes from murder victim's families &
3300+ from some of the greatest thinkers in history
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Victim Services
Victims' Voices
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Additional research, w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone.
The Death Penalty: Justice & Saving More Innocents
and
Students, Academics & Journalists: Death Penalty Research
(7 pro-death penalty experts are included)
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Partial CV
