Spreading the Fear

Just saw a short news story on WMC/5, so I'll pick on them for this sin.

It's one of those "high media profile crimes raise neighborhood fears" stories. A woman's body is found in Overton Park. Nothing else is known. A police/perp tussle turns violent when a gun goes off, wounding the officer. Two specific events.

So Channel Five reports that students at the Memphis College of Arts are worried. You know, scared it's gonna happen to them. Why? Who knows. Maybe the reporter could have done some homework, to find out how many crimes of violence, crimes involving assault and guns, crimes against women, crimes of opportunity, happened around and in Overton Park in the very recent past, maybe the past month or so. Then compare that number with similar numbers from a year ago, to see if there are trends. You know, a basis for worry.

Or, interview residents. WMC did that over the weekend, and the people they spoke with weren't particularly worried because they practiced preventive measures. Those folks had a healthier, if less compelling, sense of reality. WMC could interview businesses around the park to see what kinds of trends those folks are seeing.

Or, and this is a tougher one, talk with the sex cruisers, druggies, and homeless who live in the Park. Find out what they know, because I guarantee you they know a whole lot more than self-absorbed youngsters passing through the Park.

But that's more work than just sticking microphones in random kids' faces and asking "Are you scared?" then trotting out the same old FUD as a story. Yeah, it fills the program, but it's the information equivalent of brightly colored sugar.

INSTANT UPDATE I just read this post from Jamey's blog, which felt to me to vaguely tie in with the above. Jamey is a former newsman himself and writes an excellent personal blog. Highly recommended.

Also, this post from Abby who lives right across the street from "Murder Park," as she calls it, seems a complementary but opposing point that should be heard, too. She's been blogging events from the literal beginning, so make sure to read her whole blog.