Sniper Suspects’ Religion Throws News Media a Curve
Washington area sniper suspects John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo have thrown the news media a curve as some try to tie the sniper activities to religious beliefs. Some in the media have come across as clueless, others with an agenda.
Seemingly the most reasonable line seems to have come Sunday from the Boston Globe in a story headlined, “No Role for Islam Seen in Killings:” “the piecemeal approach that John Allen Muhammad took to religion suggests that his fractured personality, more than his spiritual beliefs, led to the terrifying violence that killed at least 10 people,” even though that sentence convicts the suspects.
Nevertheless a number of commentators, such as those on “Fox News Sunday,” repeated the allegation that Muhammad had been Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan‘s bodyguard.
“Brit Hume: Well, it might also be worth noting that what you have here is a Nation of Islam member, who is reported to have been a bodyguard for Louis Farrakhan, and his illegal alien friend. That’s another way to characterize it, equally as valid.
“Tony Snow: Yes, Farrakhan now says he was not a bodyguard.
“Brit Hume: I understand he says that, but, you know, big surprise there.”
Later in the show, commentator Juan Williams said: “it just alarms me, in terms of the Farrakhan connection. Farrakhan spouts a lot of stuff that, you know, is anti-American at times, but clearly at times hate-filled. And you just hope that he takes responsibility here . . . You just hope that he asserts that with some understanding of the consequence for his rhetoric.”
Farrakhan held a press conference Saturday to say that “Mr. John Allen Williams, also known as John Muhammad, was never personal security for me. I don’t believe I have ever met him.” He added that Muhammad had not been a member in good standing in the Nation for several years, as the Chicago Tribune reported.
The Tribune Friday speculated that the two might have a connection to the Nation of Islam offshoot known as the Five Percenters:
“The sniper’s apparent use of the phrases ‘word is bond’ (recited by police in their communications with him) and ‘I am God’ (left for police on a Tarot card) led some observers to suggest that Muhammad was part of a religious group called the Five Percenters.
“Also known as the Nation of Gods and Earths, the group was founded in the 1960s by a former member of the Nation of Islam.
“The group teaches about ‘the 5 percent,’ righteous teachers who preach the divinity of black men.
“But the Five Percenters’ national secretary, Knowledge Me, said from New York that although the group does use the phrases, he has never heard of Muhammad–and that members of the group do not use the name Muhammad.”
The Associated Press Saturday followed with a piece headlined, “Sniper Linked to [the Five Percenter] Movement.”
But the New York Times took the same information Sunday and found an expert who pronounced the “I am God” reference a sign of delusion:
“A rapid and bizarre change in religious beliefs, especially the delusion of being God, is not rare among serial killers and others who commit violent crimes, according to mental health experts who study extreme criminal behavior.
” ‘This is a fairly well-known phenomenon in clinical psychiatry,’ said Dr. Jerrold M. Post, a professor of psychiatry at George Washington University in Washington and a specialist in political violence and terrorism, while adding that he was not diagnosing Mr. Muhammad’s condition. ‘It is a way of compensating for feelings of insignificance and worthlessness.’
Blacks “Overrepresented” as Serial Killers?
The Boston Globe contributes to the discussion about the number of black serial killers with this information:
“Eric Hickey, a professor of criminal psychology who has collected data on 399 serial killers from 1800 to 1995, said while the majority of them have been white, blacks represent 22 percent of the cases, while they make up about 13 percent of the U.S. population.
” ‘Blacks actually are overrepresented among serial killers,’ said Hickey, who teaches at California State University at Fresno. ‘But as far as I know, this is the first case of a pair of black men working together. That makes this case different.’
“Criminologist Scott Thornsley theorizes that the popular image of a serial killer is Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, not Wayne Williams, because the entertainment media, when portraying heinous murderers for the mass market, are reluctant to cast minorities in the roles.
” ‘When you’re trying to appeal to a largely white audience, you don’t make Hannibal Lecter black,’ said Thornsley, a professor in criminal justice at Mansfield University in Pennsylvania.”
Hampton U. Advertises for J-School Director
The drama over the direction of the journalism program at Hampton University continues with an advertisement today for a director of the new school. When we last visited the story Oct. 15, Hampton University President William R. Harvey disputed a memo sent by Charlotte Grimes , a former St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter who came to Hampton two years ago to head its department of media arts, in which she said Harvey expressed the view “that journalism is ‘to do good, not muckraking.'”
Grimes said she was offered the job heading the new Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, which opened Sept. 25, but declined given Harvey’s instructions. Harvey named Rosalynne (Roz) Whitaker-Heck to lead the school on an interim basis.
The job announcement is at the end of today’s posting.
Plagiarism Found in Column by Weather Forecaster
The San Antonio Express- News no longer will publish columns written by KENS-TV Chief Meteorologist Albert Flores after it was discovered the weatherman was plagiarizing his commentary, the Express-News reports.
While fact-checking a column Flores filed for this week, an editor found it had been copied from a military weather Web site, said Carolina Garcia, Express-News managing editor.
Flores acknowledged the plagiarism but said any harm he caused was unintentional.
“A column is an overwhelming task and one I really wasn’t prepared for,” he said Friday. “I want to apologize to the paper and the readers. There was no malice intended whatsoever.”
Honolulu to Publish Column in Hawaiian Language
For the first time in more than 50 years, the Hawaiian language will be regularly featured in a widely circulated publication, the Associated Press reports.
A column written in Hawaiian has starting publishing in Sunday’s Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The weekly column will be called Kauakukalahale – “the rain of Honolulu,” said Laiana Wong, who will edit the column with colleague Kekeha Solis. “The word ‘kukala’ is the word to announce, to proclaim. That’s what news does, like a bulletin,” Wong said. “Water, of course, is a source of wealth in Hawaiian, so information is the new kind of rain.” Star-Bulletin Editor Frank Bridgewater said the newspaper hopes that by promoting the Hawaiian language it will raise the level of awareness and encourage support of an official state language.
Columbus Black Journalists Stymied on Debate
For the Columbus Association of Black Journalists, sponsoring a debate between the two candidates for lieutenant governor was a natural, reports the Columbus Dispatch.
Whoever wins Nov. 5 — Democrat Charleta B. Tavares or Republican Jennette Bradley, both members of Columbus City Council — will become the first black female lieutenant governor in American history.
Seven current governors were lieutenant governors who came to power when the office became vacant.
“We were going to make a historic event of this debate,” said Reggie Anglen, president of the 70-member Columbus association. “Black journalists from all over the state were going to be here for it.”
And then the campaigns said no.
Through debate negotiators — Jo Ann Davidson for Republican Bob Taft and Gerald J. Austin for Democrat Timothy F. Hagan — the gubernatorial candidates signed off on no debates for their running mates.
“We agreed the focus is on the gubernatorial candidates,” Austin said.
Oregonian to Publish Commitment Notices
Beginning Saturday, Dec. 7, The Oregonian in Portland will publish a “Celebrations” page. The page — or pages — will contain paid announcements to mark weddings, commitments, engagements, births, birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions that people want to note publicly, the Oregonian said.
“Celebrations” also will include commitment ceremonies for couples who have registered their partnership in jurisdictions that recognize them. Two area jurisdictions have registries for gay, lesbian and unmarried heterosexual couples, the paper said.
Hampton University Job Announcement
Director, Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications
Hampton University is seeking an energetic, innovative, progressive, experienced, and professionally respected individual to serve as director of its Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications. An ideal candidate for the position will have at least five years of professional journalism experience, strong written and verbal communication skills, editing experience, and a proven record of effective organizational skills. A master’s degree is preferred; teaching experience is of added benefit. The new director should be prepared to assume duties no later than July 1, 2003.
The director’s responsibilities will include administrative and managerial duties, strategic planning, curriculum development, teaching, recruiting faculty and faculty development, maintaining programmatic accreditation, directing student internships and job placement, building relationships with professional and academic communities, fundraising, preparing and overseeing budgets, and working collaboratively within the university’s Administrative Council. The director will report to the Provost, the university’s chief academic officer.
The Scripps Howard Center is a new, state-of-the-art facility that accommodates 300 students and 13 faculty and staff members. The Center officially opened fall 2002.
To apply, send a letter of application, which expresses interest in and qualifications for the position; a current vita/resume; official academic transcripts; and three letters of recommendation to:
Search Committee for School of Journalism and Communications
c/o Margaret D. Martin
P. O. Box 6033
Hampton University
Hampton, Virginia 23668
Applications will be accepted through January 31, 2003
