October 21, 2005

Certainty

There's always been a degree of "if it bleeds it leads" thinking in the media, and the local versions are no exception. Mostly though, I tended towards thinking that the more outrageous stupidity was due to lesser talents being at the local level. After seeing a piece on last night's broadcast, I'm no longer sure.

A wanted member of the gang MS13 was apprehended in the area, apparently a very bad hombre. It was a peaceful arrest, probably due to the extreme amount of firepower the police deployed to get this guy.

Afterwards, the breathless reporter interviewed other residents of the apartment complex where the guy was arrested. Most notable was the sloppy and amatuerish editing, all designed to make it sound like Jack the Ripper himself had been lurking in their midst. But if you listened to what people were actually saying, you noticed that the guy was quiet, kept to himself, wasn't bothering anyone. In short, he was laying low. The reporter was falling all over herself to find someone, anyone, who would claim that he was terrorizing the neighborhood.

The capper was when they showed the door of the apartment where the guy was apprehended.

Reporter's voice-over: This is the apartment where the arrest was made, number 76. Note that 7+6=13, and he belonged to the gang MS13!

No word on whether the residents of apartments 13, 49, 58, 67, 85, or 94 were taken into custody as well

Posted by Ted at October 21, 2005 05:27 AM | TrackBack
Category: Square Pegs
Comments

Man, I hate that shit.

Posted by: Maelstrom at October 21, 2005 08:10 AM

Why do reporters think that we are as stupid as they are?

Posted by: Susie at October 21, 2005 11:50 AM

I read this on Friday and thought to myself: WHAT?

Edward R. Morrow is turning over in his grave. oh and not the Morrow portrayed in the movie, but the Morrow who hated ill-ingormed, quick to judge, biased and fearful reporting.

Posted by: michele at October 24, 2005 08:55 AM
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