Reporters not describing people by race/ethnicity any longer (Houston: crime, school)

[Mom2Feebs]

I'm watching KPRC's report of the robbery incidents in Clear Lake. They mention everything about the two women EXCEPT for the fact that they were black. The reporter said, "They are said to be females, one possibly a teen, the other in her 40s, and they both have wild hair." WTF?!?! Yes, okay, wild hair, I'll be on the lookout for that. How about letting us know, white, black, asian, hispanic....? Why do I have to get that information elsewhere?

It's irritating--I mean, hello, it would be nice to know what to look out for. I've noticed this for a while. Did someone sue or something? Some new law? Dang, we are too freaking sensitive for our own good.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

The Houston Chronicle started doing that a few years ago. They would print what would have been an otherwise good, informative story, but then the got politically correct and began to leave out details when the would say 'Anyone with information is asked to call .....'. The only thing is, they never gave a description, other than to say a man!

So, if you see a man, slender build, call Crimestoppers. Why even bother with the story then?

[XodoX]

Just the way it is. I do not like it either. Americans are WAY to sensitive about all this.

[Topaz]

It is ridiculous. I can't tell if the state of journalism is particularly bad in Houston, or if it has just gotten awful everywhere and I just notice it in Houston because I live here.

Here is what the Chronicle said about one of the robbers:

One of the women is described as being 18 to 25 years old, approximately 5 feet to 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed around 120 pounds, according to a press release from the Webster Police Department. She had a "wild-looking, unbraided afro."

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by Topaz

It is ridiculous. I can't tell if the state of journalism is particularly bad in Houston, or if it has just gotten awful everywhere and I just notice it in Houston because I live here.

Here is what the Chronicle said about one of the robbers:

One of the women is described as being 18 to 25 years old, approximately 5 feet to 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed around 120 pounds, according to a press release from the Webster Police Department. She had a "wild-looking, unbraided afro."

I took a journalism class back in the eighties... and it was always stressed to me... 'WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW'. They seem to leave out the who now. Even though they said 'unbraided afro', it could be anyone. I've seen Goth/Grunge women with matted hair. also, Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra had an afro. He's probably bald now, but still.

One thing is certain, it's the reporter's duty to ask, and report. Period.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I took a journalism class back in the eighties... and it was always stressed to me... 'WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW'. They seem to leave out the who now. Even though they said 'unbraided afro', it could be anyone. I've seen Goth/Grunge women with matted hair. also, Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra had an afro. He's probably bald now, but still.

One thing is certain, it's the reporter's duty to ask, and report. Period.

afro + robbery. jebus.

[MrSykes]

Like it really matters. You're just going to assume they're black anyway.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

I took a journalism class back in the eighties... and it was always stressed to me... 'WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY and HOW'. They seem to leave out the who now. Even though they said 'unbraided afro', it could be anyone. I've seen Goth/Grunge women with matted hair. also, Jeff Lynne from Electric Light Orchestra had an afro. He's probably bald now, but still.

One thing is certain, it's the reporter's duty to ask, and report. Period.

That's when I took journalism classes, too. I guess back then they actually taught the skills of reporting to reporters (and we walked so many miles through the snow to school...)

Originally Posted by MrSykes

Like it really matters. You're just going to assume they're black anyway.

That's quite the assumption on your part.

[lane_change]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

Like it really matters. You're just going to assume they're black anyway.

If it was simply reported, I wouldn't have to do any assuming at all. So if it was a gang of Koreans, I would have never assumed that, but since they told me that the crime was committed by Koreans, I would know what to look for. Their should be no reason for the populace to assume anything when reading/hearing a news report.

Saying wild afro in the description is definately going to make me assume that the suspects are black, but if it was a wild haired afro on a puerto rican, then that is simply bad journalism, because I personally would have assumed black based on the wild afro comment.

Reverse racism has to be the dumbest thing ever thought up, black, white, spanish, etc...call it like you see it. All serial killers are white, why is that?

[catfancier]

I was thinking the same thing last night...give us some more information! I also never heard them describe the scene as "Clear Lake"...only Webster. I'm not familiar enough with that part of town to know _where that Hobby Lobby/DSW complex was, though I'm sure the locals would. Then I wondered why they weren't doing that "0000# block of Street Name" they usually do at crime scenes...why not??

I did some channel-surfing at the 10 p.m. news and it seemed everyone had the same-time interview with the woman (something Ng) who was hit on the head.

Edited to add: I just realized there were two different robberies....Webster AND Clear Lake. But I don't think the reporting on either ever gave a block-number street address?