Comments on: I think we should pause on this one (UPDATE II) http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/04/25/i-think-we-should-pause-on-this-one/ African-American culture, news commentary, politics Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:03:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Vision Circle http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/04/25/i-think-we-should-pause-on-this-one/#comment-8140 Vision Circle Sat, 30 Apr 2005 14:27:42 +0000 /?p=672#comment-8140 <strong>What The Media Covers, Part I</strong> So, for about 5 days, the national media has covered the story of the "missing bride-to-be". It turns out that this grown woman got cold feet and instead of facing it, ran! Police inAlbuquerque say the bride-to-be discovered in New... What The Media Covers, Part I
So, for about 5 days, the national media has covered the story of the “missing bride-to-be”. It turns out that this grown woman got cold feet and instead of facing it, ran! Police inAlbuquerque say the bride-to-be discovered in New…

]]> By: DarkStar http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/04/25/i-think-we-should-pause-on-this-one/#comment-8139 DarkStar Tue, 26 Apr 2005 22:49:13 +0000 /?p=672#comment-8139 It's in the Black media in my area. I scan BlackNews.com daily. I find that they don't do many updates. And, their editors are choosing to highlight what they want to highlight. On VisionCircle, I posted 2 links to positive stories about Blacks in Maryland. It also did not make BlackNews although the news site I linked from is part of the Black News network. Seriously, I think you are stretching. It’s in the Black media in my area.

I scan BlackNews.com daily. I find that they don’t do many updates. And, their editors are choosing to highlight what they want to highlight.

On VisionCircle, I posted 2 links to positive stories about Blacks in Maryland. It also did not make BlackNews although the news site I linked from is part of the Black News network.

Seriously, I think you are stretching.

]]> By: La Shawn Barber's Corner http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/04/25/i-think-we-should-pause-on-this-one/#comment-8137 La Shawn Barber's Corner Tue, 26 Apr 2005 19:56:15 +0000 /?p=672#comment-8137 <strong>Childish Things</strong> I usually take a hard line on retribution and punishment for wrongdoing, and I rarely make excuses for people. But arresting and handcuffing a five-year-old child is beyond belief. I tried to avoid this story, but it's popping up everywhere now. I... Childish Things
I usually take a hard line on retribution and punishment for wrongdoing, and I rarely make excuses for people. But arresting and handcuffing a five-year-old child is beyond belief.

I tried to avoid this story, but it’s popping up everywhere now. I…

]]> By: EG http://blackinformant.wordpress.com/2005/04/25/i-think-we-should-pause-on-this-one/#comment-8138 EG Tue, 26 Apr 2005 14:03:48 +0000 /?p=672#comment-8138 These two stories, although with different outcomes, do share a similar problem. “BlackNews.com recently partnered with CBS 10 in Tampa Bay to circulate the video of a 5-year old Black girl being handcuffed for no reason.” No reason? 1. The mother had told school authorities not a lay a hand on her child. Their had been similar outbursts and when the child was confronted, the mother intervened. 2. When the last outburst occurred, the mother said she couldn’t leave work. 3. The child had a tantrum for two hours. Perhaps the police didn’t need handcuffs on a five-year old (how did they even fit her?) but there was a reason to contact the police. And with in the other story, the same reason existed to contact the police: the parents were irresponsible. As to why the press has ignored the incident in Columbus, OH, there are several reasons: - The local press doesn’t have a close relationship with the national news folks. As you noted, black-on-black crime is not scrutinized by news outlets as black-on-white crime. - The black press covers entertainment news more than issues that economic or political news. This issue you have covered in various posts about BET and black magazines. - The case in Florida is being painted as an excessive police response. The Columbus incident would point out the actions of the students and the inaction of the school officials and the boys’ parents. The press quickly covers any negative press about the police but holding an adult responsible for his/her behavior is not given much coverage. - The press doesn’t cover all stories fairly or equally. Michael Jackson’s court trial is covered differently than a local pedophile. The coverage of the war in Iraq is greater than the war in Afghanistan. These two stories, although with different outcomes, do share a similar problem.

“BlackNews.com recently partnered with CBS 10 in Tampa Bay to circulate the video of a 5-year old Black girl being handcuffed for no reason.”

No reason?

1. The mother had told school authorities not a lay a hand on her child. Their had been similar outbursts and when the child was confronted, the mother intervened.

2. When the last outburst occurred, the mother said she couldn’t leave work.

3. The child had a tantrum for two hours.

Perhaps the police didn’t need handcuffs on a five-year old (how did they even fit her?) but there was a reason to contact the police. And with in the other story, the same reason existed to contact the police: the parents were irresponsible.

As to why the press has ignored the incident in Columbus, OH, there are several reasons:

- The local press doesn’t have a close relationship with the national news folks. As you noted, black-on-black crime is not scrutinized by news outlets as black-on-white crime.

- The black press covers entertainment news more than issues that economic or political news. This issue you have covered in various posts about BET and black magazines.

- The case in Florida is being painted as an excessive police response. The Columbus incident would point out the actions of the students and the inaction of the school officials and the boys’ parents. The press quickly covers any negative press about the police but holding an adult responsible for his/her behavior is not given much coverage.

- The press doesn’t cover all stories fairly or equally. Michael Jackson’s court trial is covered differently than a local pedophile. The coverage of the war in Iraq is greater than the war in Afghanistan.

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