Rebecca Aguilar sorry we took her “reporting” the wrong way
Oh puhleaze. KDFW reporter Rebecca Aguilar writes this on MyFoxDFW’s site:
Thanks for your feedback.
First of all, Mr. Walton is the one who told me where he was going to buy his shotgun. Though he didn’t want his face on camera, after he showed us the new weapon…. he did want to share his side of the story. He didn’t want folks to think he was some kind of criminal. That’s why he shared his tears, his remorse, and his side of the story. I also reminded viewers that Mr. Walton did not break any laws, because he was in the right. I’m sorry you took my story the wrong way. You didn’t see my story yesterday…when I pointed out that the man Mr. Walton killed had a criminal record involving theft. Rebecca Aguilar Fox 4 News.
Sound about right? She’s sorry we took her story the wrong way. When she asked Walton if he “is a trigger-happy kind of person,” we took it the wrong way. When she asked if “he shoots to kill,” we took it the wrong way. When she stood in the way of his car door so he couldn’t close it, we took it the wrong way.
When Aquilar, the KDFW editorial staff and the news station runs this story without noting that Walton’s place of business is also his residence, a detail that significantly changes the scope of his shooting two burglars, it’s our fault that we took it the wrong way.
When KDFW’s initial response to blogger criticisms of their reporting methods is to demand the video of their story be removed from the Web, it’s our fault for not understanding what they meant. (The video is still available at LiveLeak.)
Let me first share a tip for Aguilar and the KDFW news team, including the editors there: It is your responsibility as journalists to clarify situations to the fullest extent possible. As doctors live to a code of “Do no harm,” the same, in effect, holds for journalists. Journalists are supposed to, by the very nature of the trade, report events in a clear and accurate manner. This story has several faults. Let’s look at them, as well as Aguilar’s off-camera email response.
First, Aguilar writes in the email that Walton told her where he was going to buy a new shotgun. That tidbit would have been helpful to report in the story as it might have diffused some of the ambush-like quality of her reporting. Transparency is your friend, Aguilar.
Second, Not reporting that Walton’s residence is also his place of work is a huge omission and I can only hope that simple ignorance of Texas firearm laws is to blame for not recognizing the impact that detail has the shootings. Texas’ “Castle Doctrine” establishes the right of citizens to use any force necessary to defend themselves and that anyone unlawfully entering your residence is presumed to a threat to the homeowner’s person. (Lawyers, feel free to clarify that, as I am not a lawyer.)
Third, Why did KDFW and Aguilar not follow a coupe of lines of questioning of a) Why police took as long to respond, and b) When will Walton’s shotguns be returned to him, a man who committed no crime?
Aguilar and KDFW should know that in television reporting, appearances shape the news and for some 40 years, the audience largely didn’t know any better. Not so much anymore. The audience is starting to be aware that often times, the king has no clothes on and we’re speaking up.