Part 7/13:
In a separate segment, major networks like CNN drew criticism for biased coverage of a mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan. During CNN’s report, anchor Aaron Burnett mentioned that the shooter might be "possibly white," a remark that many, including critics, saw as racially charged and unprofessional.
CJ Pearson and others argued that such coverage exemplifies media bias—if the perpetrator had been black, a different narrative and different language would likely have been used, potentially leading to scapegoating. Critics accused CNN of "absolutely screwing accountability" and fostering division by selectively including or excluding certain details based on racial stereotypes.