From Cronkite to Clickbait: What the Kirk Assassination Reveals About America's Media Divide

Political activist Charlie Kirk.

"Assassination is the premeditated murder of a person, often a public figure like a political leader, for political, religious, ideological, or other strategic reasons, typically involving treacherous violence."

I tried.

I really tried to stay out of this one, but the constant social media news cycle surrounding the assassination of political activist, Charlie Kirk, will not cease, and the voices are getting louder. Historically, the rhetoric will dull and the event will pass into history, but that is presently not the case with the death of Charlie Kirk.

In case you live in a cave and one of my newspaper chimps delivers your only newspaper, the Robertson County News or The Silsbee Bee:

Charles James Kirk, 31, was assassinated on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Kirk was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and was the co-founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012, among other conservative activist roles. He was married to Erika Frantzve. They had two children: a daughter born in August 2022 and a son born in May 2024.

All caught up? Not even close.

Tyler James Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and other offenses, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty. A protective order was issued preventing Robinson from contacting Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. A large memorial service was held Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, drawing an estimated 90,000 people with overflow into a nearby arena. President Donald Trump and other figures described Kirk as a martyr for conservative causes and free speech.

Turning Point USA has announced it will continue with the campus events Kirk had planned, positioning them as part of his legacy. Erika Kirk has stepped into a leadership role within the organization. Meanwhile, Utah Valley University has launched an independent review of its security response to the shooting. The incident has fueled broader public debate about political violence, free speech, and the growing polarization in American politics.

Political activists Martin Luther King, Jr.

For us Gen Xers, this sounds a bit familiar.

Not since the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. or President John F. Kennedy has a political killing so sharply divided the United States. The death of Charlie Kirk has drawn comparisons to those historic moments, underscoring how violence against prominent figures often deepens political rifts. His killing has prompted widespread debate about the future of conservative activism, free speech, and the risks posed by escalating polarization.

As expected, Kirk's widow, Erika, has stepped forward to carry on her husband's work through Turning Point USA. Her pledge mirrors the determination once shown by Coretta Scott King, who vowed to continue her husband's vision for justice after his death. Like King, Erika Kirk has assumed a leadership role in her own right, seeking to preserve and expand the movement her husband helped build.

Crazy is as crazy does.

Several teachers and university staff across the United States have been fired or placed on leave following social media posts that mocked or celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. At Middle Tennessee State University, Assistant Dean of Students Laura Sosh-Lightsy was dismissed after officials described her remarks as "inappropriate and callous." Faculty members at Clemson University were also removed from classroom duties or terminated for similar online commentary, while a professor at Florida Atlantic University claimed his comments were misrepresented by administrators amid widespread criticism.

Disciplinary actions extended beyond higher education into the corporate and media sectors. PHNX Sports announced the firing of reporter Gerald Bourguet over a post that violated editorial standards, while other companies, airlines, and law firms suspended or dismissed employees for messages considered insensitive to Kirk's assassination. Media outlets and businesses alike emphasized that their decisions reflected organizational policies on professionalism and public responsibility.

Students have also faced consequences for their conduct in the aftermath of the killing. At Texas State University, one student was expelled after mocking Kirk during a campus memorial, while Texas Tech University removed a student over a viral video that showed offensive behavior and language about the incident. University leaders said such actions were taken to uphold standards of respect and safety within campus communities.

Is it free speech or just a free-for-all?

The difference between Charlie Kirk and Martin Luther King Jr. regarding the troubling news we see today lies in social media and the lack of human empathy and respect being displayed. We, the people, have taken sides and lost some of our humanity along the way. A man is dead; his children no longer have a father, his wife has lost her husband, and a group of people has lost a friend.

When King was killed, it upset a nation, an entire nation. Why? Because while the opposition to the movement was present, it was at least respectful enough not to "post" on social media. Wait a minute, social media wasn't available back in those days. That's right, the media like newspapers and my favorite, Walter Cronkite, were the ones reporting the truth in the news, not every crazy person in this country.

Walter Cronkite reported on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., announcing the killing of the "Apostle of Nonviolence" on April 4, 1968, from the balcony of a hotel in Memphis. His broadcast detailed the immediate aftermath, including the deployment of National Guardsmen, the imposition of a curfew in Memphis, and the search for a well-dressed white man seen fleeing the scene.

What? Wait. You mean Cronkite only reported the facts? That can't be right. Where is all the nonsense, the jokes, the memes, the hate? Where is all the BS we have to sift through these days to just get to the facts? If in opposition to Kirk and his message, fine, but respect and empathy should never be sacrificed.

It starts at home.

We have to take responsibility for the habits you've passed down to your children—and now, in many cases, to theirs. Social media has become the primary source of information for too many families, and that comes at a cost. If we want a healthier society, we must start by reducing the time our kids spend staring at screens and guide them back to real journalism from credible media outlets. Community newspapers, staffed by trained reporters who live and work among us, are designed to inform, not to divide. They provide the kind of reliable coverage that helps people see an issue from every angle instead of just through the lens of outrage.

This isn't about restricting free speech or ignoring the power of the press—it's about understanding the difference between biased feeds designed to provoke and professional reporting meant to explain.

Parents can lead by example: don't rely on TikTok clips or memes for your news, and don't let your kids believe that "likes" equal truth. Show them how to check sources, how to question what they see, and how to find context in legitimate outlets.

When families make that shift, we not only strengthen our children's critical thinking but also restore trust in the institutions that still strive to tell the full story.