Tag Archives: after-it-aired

George Zimmerman has filed a lawsuit against NBC over the way the network edited and played a 911 call following the shooting of Trayvon Martin in February. Zimmerman claims NBC made him look like a “hostile racist.” Trayvon Martin 911 Call NBC launched an internal investigation over the Trayvon Martin 911 call after it aired the recording, which featured Zimmerman quotes outside of their original context. The tape played on the air made it sound like Zimmerman immediately told police that Martin, who he says he shot in self-defense, was black, without being prompted. In actuality, the full George Zimmerman 911 call reveals he only said Martin “looks black” when responding to a question from the dispatcher about Trayvon’s race. Zimmerman, who has been charged with second-degree murder , accuses NBC of creating a “false and defamatory misimpression using the oldest form of yellow journalism.” He cites the recording above as proof of this allegation. NBC, his lawyer says, ” manipulated Zimmerman’s words , splicing together disparate parts of the recording to create the illusion of statements that he never actually made.” Whether a judge and/or jury agree remains to be seen. Free on bail and using autograph sales to raise cash, the 28-year-old suing for unspecified damages, citing defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Zimmerman, a former neighborhood watch coordinator for his gated community in Sanford, Florida, fatally shot the 17-year-old Martin on February 26. He has claimed the shooting was in self-defense. His supporters have long held that he is a victim of media bias in the case that became a sensational national obsession, and should be exonerated.

More here:
George Zimmerman 911 Call Editing Leads to Lawsuit Against NBC