Bad Data Drives Fear of Crime
A northside blog use of bad data analysis underscores the need for a more authoritative entity to analyze gun violence data holistically and release reports as these blogs are failing Chicago’s communities badly.
Media Practices Must Change with Chicago Police Practices
It is nearly impossible for the CPD to institute changes to their practices if the media doesn’t change their exploitative reporting practices. The federal civil rights investigation of the Chicago Police Department provides a moment in time to make real change to the deep-rooted problems that have plagued policing in Chicago for over a hundred […]
Gangs: Television Coverage, Violence, and the new RICO law
Isn’t the definition of insanity repeating the same actions and expecting different results? If so, then the Chicago media sure is insane. Check my reasoning: Every year, following a spike in violence, the media goes crazy with coverage demanding action to stop these crimes from happening again. They also demonize, rightly and wrongly, street gangs […]
Change in Government Must Include Change in Media Practices
The major problem with the crime statistics for the last couple decades in Chicago is that they have been used as tools – by both the police department and the media – to manipulate the public. Neither has used the statistics responsibly, and over the last several years we have seen an unprecedented misuse of […]
Reporting as the “carnage and mayhem”
On Wednesday May 5th Chuck Goudie from ABC 7 News did his absolute best to use hyperbolic reporting and an extremely poor use of statistics to lend support to a recent call for the National Guard. (You can view the report below.) I will take the time Goudie didn’t to show you how the numbers […]
Cohen & Reporting on Domestic Violence
In thinking about the Cohen story, I am wondering who prompted the media to write about it the day after the elections. This seems to be the work of the Republican Party in Illinois, and to tell you the truth I do not blame them. I am sure that the Republicans are very happy that […]
Most Reprehensible Aspect Uncovered by MGT Fervor
When any single agency within the criminal justice system fails us, it is important that we look to assign responsibility beyond the confines of that single agency. Why? Because there is a dialectical relationship between every agency. There is little doubt that the quality of work of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications (the […]
7 vs. 61 – Risk Elimination, Fear Mongering, Victimization, and the Press
With all the press on the Meritorious Good Time Push (MGT) program that was just recently halted by Governor Quinn there has been no discussion about what purpose is really served by incarcerating someone for 61 days rather than just 7? The reporting makes you think that the individuals who recidivated would not have done […]