Traditional conventions in reporting on crime can damage community trust. Our flawed coverage too often reinforces stereotypes and inequalities, stokes fear and paints fundamentally inaccurate pictures of our communities.
We know our communities have very strong reactions to our crime coverage. They notice it, they engage with it, they complain about it and they hold us accountable for it.
Let’s change that through an examination of the goals and routines of our public safety coverage. This post will look at some key decisions journalists make and reconsider whether our coverage is in line with our values and goals as journalists.
