Graphic content can make or break a broadcast. Too much disturbing content risks desensitizing viewers, while omitting upsetting footage risks having inauthentic coverage. The Derek Chauvin trial was filled with disturbing evidence, which challenged CBS, ABC and NBC to decide which content was acceptable to air.
Dr. Martin Tobin testified on Thursday, April 8. Tobin’s testimony slowed down and zoomed in on footage to show Floyd’s final moments. CBS, ABC and NBC took different approaches to covering the day’s disturbing content. Their different story packages reflect the difficult choices they had to make.
CBS played video of Floyd’s dying moment during its coverage. It gave a graphic content warning before showing the video. However, it is debatable if hearing Norah O’Donnell say, “We want to warn you – some of the testimony is graphic,” prepared viewers to see Floyd die on their television screens. As they watched, they heard Dr. Tobin say: “You see his eyes… he is conscious…and then you see that he isn’t. That is the moment the life goes out of his body. The knee remains on his neck for another three minutes and 27 seconds after he takes his last breath.”
Some may argue that showing Floyd’s death was exploitative, even though it was a key point in Tobin’s testimony. Moments before showing the video, CBS had footage of Floyd being restrained. CBS blurred Floyd’s face in that first video, as if it were too disturbing. However, the network didn’t alter the testimony video that came next, which showed Floyd dying. The incongruency in the network’s use of graphics was striking. CBS could have summarized what Tobin said rather than play the video of Floyd’s death.
While ABC did not show the video of Floyd’s final moments, it aired several graphic photos of him in distress. Tobin testified that Chauvin’s full body weight was resting on Floyd’s neck and showed photographs of Floyd reacting to Chauvin’s pressure. Instead of summarizing this, ABC showed the photos, including Floyd’s unblurred face, showing his obvious pain. The network did not warn viewers of these upcoming disturbing photos. Seeing Floyd in agony without warning could have overwhelmed unprepared viewers.
NBC did not play the video Tobin used. Instead, the network used a 3D graphic to demonstrate how Chauvin restricted Floyd. Viewers could have found the 3D animation informative and less disturbing. NBC also aired the audio of Tobin’s explanation of Floyd’s death. However, the visual used was Tobin himself – not the video of Floyd dying. Additionally, the network blurred Floyd’s face in the only image of him showcased. NBC was careful to avoid showing too many graphic images during an already disturbing murder trial.
Each network covered the ninth day of the Chauvin trial differently. The jurors needed to see the unedited pictures and video of the murder. The American public did not have the same need. The challenge was to determine which used in the courtroom was appropriate to air. The varied approaches show the choices each had to make to present sensitive materials. The networks ran a fine line between desensitizing viewers with graphic content and not showing the full story.
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