Epistemic craftwork, or when is good journalism bad public relations?

• In Event: Competitive Papers in Forensics and Argumentation

Abstract

In April 2007, Seung-Hui Cho mailed a video, photographs and a lengthy written document to NBC News while in the middle of his infamous shooting spree at Virginia Tech. NBC News president Steve Capus aired the footage, which unleashed a torrent of criticism from his fellow news executives at the other networks. I examine the argumentative exchange between Capus and his colleagues for clues about the professional ideal and expectations in the field of journalism.

Author

• Doyle Srader, Northwest Christian University