News organizations struggle with live video of man who set himself on fire outside court in US Politics

The Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial became the scene of a horrifying incident on Friday when a man lit himself on fire outside the building. Video cameras captured the gruesome scene as the man distributed pamphlets before dousing himself in an accelerant and setting himself ablaze.

Major news networks like CNN, Fox News Channel, and MSNBC were all on the air covering the trial when the incident occurred. CNN had the most extensive coverage, with anchor Laura Coates providing narration as the man was engulfed in flames. Coates described the scene as “emotional and unbelievably disturbing” as the man was eventually lifted onto a gurney.

Fox News briefly showed the scene before switching to a courtroom sketch of Trump on trial, while MSNBC focused on the smoke in the park without showing the body on fire. The Associated Press had a live shot outside the courthouse, capturing the entire incident, but later removed the feed due to its graphic nature.

Julien Gorbach, a journalism professor, noted the importance of critical thinking in consuming news, especially in situations like this where information spreads rapidly. The incident, while shocking, did not appear to be related to the trial, and news organizations were cautious in their coverage to avoid confusion.

The man, who was in critical condition, may have sought media attention with his drastic act. The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by news organizations in disseminating information responsibly to the public.