The New York Daily News, in an effort to gain extra attention, used screenshots from Vester Flanagan’s video of him shooting WDBJ7 journalist Alison Parker on the cover of today’s edition. The cover has drawn mostly negative reaction online.
The headline reads “Executed On Live TV” and shows three stills from a video Flanagan posted on Facebook during the shooting.
Twitter users were disgusted by the Daily News’ cover. Others just accepted that this is what the Daily News does in order to shock readers and get them to buy their paper.
“Delete your newspaper,” one person wrote. Another wrote, “For people who call themselves journalist, you would think @NYDailyNews would know better. Disgusting. Respect Alison and Adam.” And someone added, “Thanks for reminding us that you're scum.”
Flanagan allegedly shot Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, during a live broadcast Wednesday morning. Flanagan continued posting messages and photos on Facebook and Twitter, even when he was running from police. Both social networks suspended his accounts and the videos are no longer available online. The alleged shooter shot himself on the highway and later died at a hospital.
ABC News said that it received a manifesto from Flanagan, who was professionally known as Bryce Williams.
cover from the NY Daily News