Don’t shut out media

I am a small-town newspaper reporter in Northern California, but I was raised in Spokane Valley. I was stunned by the news of the shooting at Freeman High School. I often competed against the high school as a U-High student and athlete.

I saw Sheriff Knezovich’s press conference on Facebook and, at first, I agreed with him. I do think we are raising our children in a manner that doesn’t teach mindfulness.

However, I disagree with him that the media are to blame. We are all subject to varying levels of violence through books, movies, magazines and, yes, the news. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children about the types of media they consume. Media consumption is a form of nutrition and its nourishment can either satisfy or leave us empty and wanting more. A lot of violent media provides the latter.

However, the news providing the facts of a story doesn’t propagate additional violence or copycats. The news is there to educate, teach, console and rally the community. It should not be shut out. It needs to continue its presence in our communities so that we have a way to process and cope when tragedies happen.

Amie Windsor

Sebastopol, Calif.