2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
School Shootings All Tragic
10/3/06
Editorials
Editorials
- Page 1 of 1
Just yesterday three people were shot to death at a one room Amish school in Pennsylvania, and three girls ages six to twelve were hospitalized.
The schoolhouse massacre was the third deadly school shooting in less than a week.
Before the gun smoke had settled in each of these cases, the media descended with school shootings as the top story of news programs around the country.
However, just two weeks ago right up the street from us at Cardozo High School, a teen was shot. This incident received marginal local media attention, at best. There were also two or three other shootings involving teens locally with no national mention.
It is a tragedy when young people kill each other regardless of race. The shootings of black students at inner-city schools in, low-income areas around the country are often given little media coverage and often even considered business as usual.
With school shootings occurring more often at predominately-black schools, that is even more reason for news organizations to focus on this issue and alert the public to ongoing problems.
Another reality of the latest outbreak of school shootings is the heinousness of the crimes.
As many Hilltop staff members stated, shooting schoolmates with no direct motive and shooting whomever is in the vicinity is not as common in the black community.
The overwhelming tragedy of the man walking into a Colorado school and killing a 16-year-old girl and himself, and a 15-year-old boy in Wisconsin killing his principal for being punished is definitely newsworthy nationally. But just as appropriate to put on the 6 o’clock news is the story of shootings right here in the city.
The recent occurrence of school shootings reveals the disparities between black and white victims in the media.
From kidnapped children to women attacked by their husbands, black victims are seen as second-class citizens too often.
Another huge issue in media coverage and society’s awareness of our tragedies is economics. Whereas neighborhoods with higher income levels have mothers that can afford to miss work (if they work) and dedicate themselves to their children’s safety, our neighborhoods don’t always allocate the money and time to make sure that our voices are heard.
The black community must be champions of our own safety and that of our children. Our communities must spread the attitude that shootings at “inner city” (read: Black) schools are not to be accepted as the status quo. A life is a life.
‘If it Bleeds it Leads’ is the mantra for many news organizations on what stories will be featured; the blood of all should be valued regardless of race.
The schoolhouse massacre was the third deadly school shooting in less than a week.
Before the gun smoke had settled in each of these cases, the media descended with school shootings as the top story of news programs around the country.
However, just two weeks ago right up the street from us at Cardozo High School, a teen was shot. This incident received marginal local media attention, at best. There were also two or three other shootings involving teens locally with no national mention.
It is a tragedy when young people kill each other regardless of race. The shootings of black students at inner-city schools in, low-income areas around the country are often given little media coverage and often even considered business as usual.
With school shootings occurring more often at predominately-black schools, that is even more reason for news organizations to focus on this issue and alert the public to ongoing problems.
Another reality of the latest outbreak of school shootings is the heinousness of the crimes.
As many Hilltop staff members stated, shooting schoolmates with no direct motive and shooting whomever is in the vicinity is not as common in the black community.
The overwhelming tragedy of the man walking into a Colorado school and killing a 16-year-old girl and himself, and a 15-year-old boy in Wisconsin killing his principal for being punished is definitely newsworthy nationally. But just as appropriate to put on the 6 o’clock news is the story of shootings right here in the city.
The recent occurrence of school shootings reveals the disparities between black and white victims in the media.
From kidnapped children to women attacked by their husbands, black victims are seen as second-class citizens too often.
Another huge issue in media coverage and society’s awareness of our tragedies is economics. Whereas neighborhoods with higher income levels have mothers that can afford to miss work (if they work) and dedicate themselves to their children’s safety, our neighborhoods don’t always allocate the money and time to make sure that our voices are heard.
The black community must be champions of our own safety and that of our children. Our communities must spread the attitude that shootings at “inner city” (read: Black) schools are not to be accepted as the status quo. A life is a life.
‘If it Bleeds it Leads’ is the mantra for many news organizations on what stories will be featured; the blood of all should be valued regardless of race.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ronald Only
posted 10/03/06 @ 7:29 AM EST
There is a rumor going around that Swygert's contact won't be renewed. It is a story in my book and I would like to see Hilltop writers get the credit for investigating this situation. (Continued…)
Kory
Kory L. Jordan, B.S.
posted 10/03/06 @ 11:16 AM EST
I do agree that Black victims need more news coverage but I am equally aligned with the idea of White suspects being covered in the news as well. Such coverage of White suspects informs the community that there is more than just Black-on-Black crime occurring. (Continued…)
Vincent Sherry
posted 10/04/06 @ 6:49 AM EST
I would have submitted this as a letter to the editor, but the system is bugging.
Differences in Black and White are not always black and white. Disparities in coverage of the Pennsylvania shooting and the local high school shooting may lie in different factors. (Continued…)
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