ABC Bans WTC Plane Crash Video

Updated: Tue, Sep 18 7:14 PM EDT

By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - The arresting video images of airplanes slamming into the World Trade Center won't be shown again on ABC News without the network news chief's special permission.

ABC News President David Westin ordered the ban Tuesday amid concerns expressed by viewers that their repetition is proving disturbing.

"There is a sense that repeated use of these images is inappropriate," said ABC News spokeswoman Su-Lin Cheng Nichols. "People will remember these images forever whether we put them on or not. It's no longer a public service to continue to air them."

Competing networks say they're airing the images less than they did last week simply because the story is moving on.

ABC anchorman Peter Jennings said on the air Friday that many viewers had called or e-mailed to say they were troubled by the repeated use of the footage.

"We are mindful of that," Jennings said then, "and we have done our best ... to be really judicious with our use of images that seriously trouble a great many people."

Even last Thursday, CBS News President Andrew Heyward told The Associated Press that his network was being careful in using the images, generally restricting them to stories where they are relevant, such as a discussion about the structural reasons for the buildings' collapse.

"Our policy has been what it's always been when there is sensitive video," CBS News spokeswoman Sandra Genelius said Tuesday. "The editorial decisions are made on a case-by-case basis."

NBC News spokeswoman Barbara Levin said the footage is airing less. "We will only use it when it is appropriate and germane to the story," she said.

Some cable news networks were criticized in the days following the attacks when the images were used as part of on-air promotions of their coverage. That use has generally subsided.

A CNN spokeswoman also said the network is being judicious in use of the video, but has no blanket ban.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

Answers

Who in this whole world has NOT seen these images over and over.....I can understand the non-airing..but that doesn't mean I have pushed it out of my mind...I think the focus should be on NOW...and the next vital steps to be taken.

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2001

it is during the recap segments that the kept airing them. Also, as more people come forward with their tapes of the incidents those are being aired.

I think we have all seen it enough for now, but perhaps, as they say, when it is germane to the story, they should air the scenes.

The American people have a remarkable ability to forget quickly that which they do not want to remember.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

I thought that the footage FOX was airing of the people jumping from the buildings was much worse. That was the second image I saw when I first tuned into the terror on Tuesday (the first was the plane hitting the building). I rarely "freeze" during emergency situations, but it was a good ten minutes or so before I could turn off the TV and get moving. I was in a motel in downtown LA at that point, and I think most preppers would've agreed that I needed to get away from downtown ASAP.

I think I may have mentioned that I went to audio only. NPR did a much better job of reporting what was going on than the network news, in my opinion. There was so much unnecessary speculation on the part of the network anchors, I thought, when I heard them talking on TVs in the stores and other public areas. I had to turn away from the pictures so that I could stay focused on what needed to be done.

I still find the images troubling and am glad that at least ABC won't be airing them as much. Yes, they need to be replayed periodically, lest certain segments of our population forget, but I don't need the constant reminders.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

You're right on so many levels, meemur.

Also, did I say that I was glad to hear you made it home safe? If not, I am saying it now. LOL

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

I know, Barefoot. I finally got around to reading the threads on IC. I was cut off from there for awhile: my internet connections were slow and my time restricted, so I only posted at Currents, which, being a text-only site, loads much faster.

Best wishes to you! I know you're one of the 'lerts.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001