Following the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Nia Wilson, an Oakland-based TV station aired a photo of the victim that caused a lot of controversies. In the noon broadcast, KTVU reported the story of the stabbing using a photo of the victim holding a phone case that looked like a gun. Many have said that the photo misrepresented the victim’s innocence.
The Fox-affiliated station later apologized on air for the use of the photo. “…several pictures of [Nia Wilson] were used during our newscast at noon and one of those pictures was insensitive and for that we apologize,” said KTVU anchor Frank Somerville. “As soon as we realized the mistake we took action so that it would never air again. We want to apologize to Nia’s family and to our community.”
The National Association of Black Journalists made a statement on the matter by condemning the actions of the news station. “Use of this photo violated on of journalism’s core ethics: ‘do not harm,’ as it implied Ms. Wilson was dangerous. The use of the photo can be seen as an attempt to dismiss her humanity and silence those who view her death as a racially-motivated attack,” the NABJ statement read in part.
The local station’s affiliation to Fox News only adds fuel to the fire for a network that has often been viewed by Black people as a broadcast network that engages in racism.
The alleged suspect, John Cowell, who is a white male was arrested for the murder of Nia Wilson at Oakland’s MacArthur BART train station. Cowell was on parole at the time of the stabbing according to the Sacramento Bee. Wilson was with her sister Letfiah at the time of the incident.
