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Tags: Katie Couric | Responsibility | Gun | Documentary

Katie Couric Takes Responsibility for Edits in Gun Film, Blames Director

Katie Couric Takes Responsibility for Edits in Gun Film, Blames Director
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By    |   Tuesday, 31 May 2016 07:40 PM EDT

Embattled journalist Katie Couric — under fire for selective editing in a documentary about gun control — now blames the film's director for doctoring interviews with pro-Second Amendment activists.

In a statement posted on the film's website, under the section "Message From Katie," Couric takes responsibility for the edits — but also appears to blame Stephanie Soechtig's direction of the controversial exchange with the activists.

The Epix documentary, which Couric narrated and executive produced, shows her interviewing members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, who seemed stumped for eight seconds by a question about gun background checks.

"My question … regarding the ability of convicted felons and those on the terror watch list to legally obtain a gun, was followed by an extended pause, making the participants appear to be speechless," Couric's statement reads.

"When I screened an early version of the film with the director … I questioned her and the editor about the pause and was told that a 'beat' was added for, as she described it, 'dramatic effect,' to give the audience a moment to consider the question," the statement read.

"I went back and reviewed it and agree that those eight seconds do not accurately represent their response," she added. "I regret that those eight seconds were misleading and that I did not raise my initial concerns more vigorously."

Couric also included a complete transcript of her interview with the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

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Embattled journalist Katie Couric - under fire for selective editing in a documentary about gun control - now blames the film's director for doctoring interviews with pro-Second Amendment activists.
Katie Couric, Responsibility, Gun, Documentary
237
2016-40-31
Tuesday, 31 May 2016 07:40 PM
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