THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220001
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
``Under Sentence of Death: Journal of a condemned man,'' is a careless and insensitive series that shames The Virginian-Pilot and everyone involved in the project.
Coordinating editor Bill Burke says he believes that giving a condemned murderer a series about life on death row is ``an unusual, perhaps unprecedented, opportunity to gain insight into the process of execution.'' I say it's an unethical and inconsiderate way to sell newspapers.
If I wanted to gain insight into life on death row, I would buy a book. I don't want to read the garbage on the front page of my newspaper.
How can The Virginian-Pilot rationalize giving a murderer a forum to express anguish over his surroundings and food? And then go a step further by failing to give the same outlet to the people who lost a loved one at the scumbag's hands?
Mr. Burke says the series provides a window into life on death row. It's not hard to figure out what life is like on death row without a first-person account. And running the journal of a condemned man will not carry out some noble deed like stopping someone else from committing murder or changing the state's policy on capital punishment. The only consequence will be further grief for the victims' loved ones.
JEFF BECKER
Chesapeake, Sept. 17, 1995 by CNB