In the past, executions have not been publicly broadcast via the media. Glenn Sparks, a professor of communication, said that he is not surprised that this request has sparked national interest.
Sparks attributes the nation's interest in witnessing the execution to catharsis.
Catharsis follows the idea that if someone feels violated by someone else's actions, witnessing the punishment of that person allows victims to purge their feelings of frustration so that they can experience relief. Sparks said that while victims may experience a sense of relief from witnessing the execution of a criminal, he is not entirely sure that McVeigh's execution should be broadcast to the public. Sparks said that he has deep reservations about the public utility for the public broadcast of an execution, in terms of whether or not it is good for society. Sparks is not alone in his reservations. Eric Murbach, a member of College Democrats at Purdue, said he is not completely sure if the execution should be broadcast.