UPDATE: NBC Breaks Media Blackout of Mumia Photos; Smerconish and Faulkner outraged

Following a weeks-long media-activist campaign (including a Dec. 4 press conference covered by Reuters, Black Commentator, and Media Channel) the Dec. 6 broadcast of NBC's Today Show (overview and video online) prominently featured the newly discovered crime scene photos, breaking the mainstream media blackout of the photos, which had only been published by The SF Bay View. A large demonstration of Mumia supporters outside the NBC studio was featured on The Today Show, as well as The NY Post, NY Times, and NBC10. Today Show guests Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner (authors of "Murdered By Mumia"), were reportedly outraged by the show, which entailed several challenging questions from co-host Matt Lauer. Journalists for Mumia responded to Faulkner and Smerconish's statements regarding the new photos.

The Dec.8 Free Mumia rally in Philadelphia featured a presentation of the new photos, where Pam Africa and others urged supporters to thank The Today Show (today@msnbc.com) for their fair and balanced report. RELATED STORIES: Dec. 8 demonstration in Bern, Switzerland II Veronica Jones' letter to The Today Show II Ed Herman on The Philadelphia Inquirer II The Mumia case: What is true justice? II Dec. 6 WBAI show featuring Suzanne Ross, Orie Lumumba, Hans Bennett, Linn Washington Jr., and Pam Africa II UPRISING RADIO: Journalists Decry Racism in Media Coverage of Mumia II Opio's Podcast.