A Bay Area news station is being taken to task, with good reason, for using a photo of murder victim Nia Wilson that many interpreted as an attempt to minimize her death.
In a news story on the murder, KTVU Fox 2 in Oakland opted to use a photo of Wilson holding a gun. Of all the beautiful photos available of Wilson, one can’t help but question their motives in using that particular one. Even more disturbing, an audit of her Facebook page revealed the “gun” is actually a phone case with Wilson taking multiple pictures of it from different angles.
To recap:
- KTVU news station goes to young Nia’s social media page
- Finds a picture of Nia holding “a gun” that is actually a phone case
- Edits picture of the phone case to make it appear there is one photo of Nia holding a gun
After a firestorm of outrage descended on their various social media accounts, reporter Frank Somerville posted a lengthy apology on the station’s Facebook page.
With the number of producers, editors, reporters and other miscellaneous personnel that work at a new station, the fact that the photo made it all the way to broadcast is disgusting.
The trash (John Cowell) that ended her beautiful, young life has been taken into custody.
To see the full apology penned by reporter Frank Somerville, plus the full photo of Nia Wilson’s phone case, flip the page.
JUSTICE FOR NIA