Silence for Chicago's Dispossessed
Residents of the Back of the Yards neighborhood are angry at police for failing to publicize the sexual assault last Saturday, Jan. 20, of a 16-year-old girl on 48th Street. They're angry because a 12-year-old girl was assaulted in the same area three days later by a suspect of similar description. They wonder why no one warned them about the predator the first time he struck.
But the police are not the only body responsible for warning residents about crime in their neighborhoods. The press is responsible as well. And the press is better equipped than the police to do the job.
As we have documented many times, the Chicago Tribune publishes front-page alerts on its website for sexual assaults in Lakeview and Wrigleyville, often accompanied by a police sketch of the suspect and a video. It will engage in all sorts of contortionism to avoid mentioning Wrigley Field, even when the assaults have occurred as close as two blocks away, but still manages to prominently place stories that focus police and community attention on this crime when it occurs in those chosen neighborhoods. It rarely ever covers sexual assaults on the South Side or West Side, even sexual assaults of children, until cases reach the courts, which means a suspect has already been apprehended.
The Tribune will pick up the story if South Side rapes appear to be serial, which is what happened in this case. The Jan. 25 Tribune story about the second assault was full of criticism of police and the local alderman, but typically empty of self-critique. The Tribune's crime coverage routinely shows favoritism toward affluent neighborhoods and routinely fails those of us "others" who don't represent the ideal Tribune advertising demographic.
But the police are not the only body responsible for warning residents about crime in their neighborhoods. The press is responsible as well. And the press is better equipped than the police to do the job.
As we have documented many times, the Chicago Tribune publishes front-page alerts on its website for sexual assaults in Lakeview and Wrigleyville, often accompanied by a police sketch of the suspect and a video. It will engage in all sorts of contortionism to avoid mentioning Wrigley Field, even when the assaults have occurred as close as two blocks away, but still manages to prominently place stories that focus police and community attention on this crime when it occurs in those chosen neighborhoods. It rarely ever covers sexual assaults on the South Side or West Side, even sexual assaults of children, until cases reach the courts, which means a suspect has already been apprehended.
The Tribune will pick up the story if South Side rapes appear to be serial, which is what happened in this case. The Jan. 25 Tribune story about the second assault was full of criticism of police and the local alderman, but typically empty of self-critique. The Tribune's crime coverage routinely shows favoritism toward affluent neighborhoods and routinely fails those of us "others" who don't represent the ideal Tribune advertising demographic.
Labels: Chicago Tribune, sexual assault
posted by Chicago Cubune Watch permalink
