Yes, it is definitely true that words influence action.  To carry this to its logical conclusion, it is clear that media should be selective in its reporting.  Mass killings are, IMHO, a creation of the "free" press in publicizing the events and giving fame to the killers.  The media makes money off the killings so they are disinclined to self-police.  A tribute to Goldberg to speak the unspeakable, i.e. media may be morally responsible for many of society's ills (even though he does not say this explicitly, media responsibility follows logically from what he does say).