Is 30 really that many? There are lots of cops, ducks and cities in this country.
More generally I don't much blame PDs for wanting to maintain decent public image. How much media outlets collude to provide one for them - and how much it's to the detriment of decent reporting - I'm less sure of, though.
AndyL nailed it. The problem isn't the cops--it's the local media which prefers cop stories to covering City Hall or other more boring things. But then again, they're just reflecting their audience. To risk a quip: the polity is the problem with the police.
Yesterday the Times of London ran a story about Atlanta, GA cops pulling a car thief from an overturned cop car -- on trains tracks! -- just before the train hit the car. A miracle to be sure. Why Londoners needed this information, I can’t imagine.
So heroic it surely transcended national borders? OF COURSE Londoners are going to want to see heroic *American* cops -- because the Met is hardly worthy these days -- save some poor miscreant from tons of crashing steel?!
I can’t imagine the average LoT reader gives a damn about ATL cops, and yes, the story placement & timing is about the Murdoch press fulfilling its PR role.
It isn’t reporting. It’s a light-hearted story about a PR trope that’s clearly common among police coms officials, and how eagerly local news media play along. There isn’t nearly enough skepticism among local reporters who cover police —particularly in TV news. And repetitive puff pieces about cops rescuing ducks is a good example.
I agree it wasn’t quite clear what you were signing on to, but you prominently quoted someone who WAS suggesting a conspiracy and you did so without question.
Journalists have a responsibility to be skeptical/question police puff pieces - AND bad takes by SF DA candidates
Fair enough. I don’t agree with John that these stories are a conscious, timed effort to bury shooting or abuse stories. I’m not sure he was suggesting a grand conspiracy either, though I see how he could be interpreted that way. I only quoted his tweet to credit him for bringing this trope to my attention.
Is 30 really that many? There are lots of cops, ducks and cities in this country.
More generally I don't much blame PDs for wanting to maintain decent public image. How much media outlets collude to provide one for them - and how much it's to the detriment of decent reporting - I'm less sure of, though.
AndyL nailed it. The problem isn't the cops--it's the local media which prefers cop stories to covering City Hall or other more boring things. But then again, they're just reflecting their audience. To risk a quip: the polity is the problem with the police.
Yeah, and all the stories are spring/early summer. So to be clear, there’s no correlation here. (Police shoot people year round.)
It’s a disappointingly dumb article from an otherwise great writer.
Yesterday the Times of London ran a story about Atlanta, GA cops pulling a car thief from an overturned cop car -- on trains tracks! -- just before the train hit the car. A miracle to be sure. Why Londoners needed this information, I can’t imagine.
That was reported recently because it happened on January 28th.
(And rescuing a crash victim from a train is actually pretty heroic/amazing work)
So heroic it surely transcended national borders? OF COURSE Londoners are going to want to see heroic *American* cops -- because the Met is hardly worthy these days -- save some poor miscreant from tons of crashing steel?!
I can’t imagine the average LoT reader gives a damn about ATL cops, and yes, the story placement & timing is about the Murdoch press fulfilling its PR role.
I guess I’m confused who you’re upset at? The police? An editor in London?
Radley, respectfully, this type of ”reporting” is beneath you.
It isn’t reporting. It’s a light-hearted story about a PR trope that’s clearly common among police coms officials, and how eagerly local news media play along. There isn’t nearly enough skepticism among local reporters who cover police —particularly in TV news. And repetitive puff pieces about cops rescuing ducks is a good example.
I agree it wasn’t quite clear what you were signing on to, but you prominently quoted someone who WAS suggesting a conspiracy and you did so without question.
Journalists have a responsibility to be skeptical/question police puff pieces - AND bad takes by SF DA candidates
Fair enough. I don’t agree with John that these stories are a conscious, timed effort to bury shooting or abuse stories. I’m not sure he was suggesting a grand conspiracy either, though I see how he could be interpreted that way. I only quoted his tweet to credit him for bringing this trope to my attention.
Thanks Radley :)