I’m getting really sick of seeing news stories written like this one:
Police say two black men, armed with guns, broke into a home in the 1700 block of Broadway around 2:00 a.m. Police believe the men took off in a car.
I seem to recall from my years as a reporter and editor that the standard for dealing with the race of a suspect of a crime was to not mention it, unless it was somehow relevant to the crime or if giving a description of the suspects.
Other than “black males,” there is no description here. Are we all supposed to be on the lookout for two “black men,” a description that matches quite a large percentage of Peoria’s population?
I’m picking on WMBD 31 here, but I’m seeing it all over, including blogs and I’m sure it’s cropped up on my site, too.
We need to knock it off and think for a minute about what we are writing and saying.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
I agree. If the detail doesn’t help with identification, then why mention it? I doubt if it had been two white guys that the race would have been specified.
At least the police are letting us know. You critize them too much, and happens to you, what if they don’t come when you need them
They probably are armed to teeth, with pistols and sawed off shootguns, an the major want to let everyone carry heaters
When they have a hugh roll of cash and their in really bad neighhorhood, does the secret society rules exist then, lke you don’t steal from mafia
Or big louie will visit ya
Where is the reporter getting the information from? The police report, right? The reporter is simply repeating information from the police report. On top of that, there is a possibility that information like that might lead to the public passing along information to the police.
So then I guess if two women did such a thing it would be okay to report it just because it would be unusual and for that reason alone it then becomes “news”, eh?
Funny you should mention that, my Granny has mentioned that when listening to her scanner that is the only description they give. Whatever is going on, they only describe a “black male”. They never give the officers any other description of the other people involved, just the “black male” description.
“At least the police are letting us know. You critize them too much, and happens to you, what if they don’t come when you need them
They probably are armed to teeth, with pistols and sawed off shootguns, an the major want to let everyone carry heaters”
favorite post, ever…
If this had been “2 white males” you’d have been silent.
Stop it.
Why mention that the suspects are male? Maybe it should read “two humans, armed with guns”. Or if we want stay with descriptions fitting the BM acronym, how about bipedal mammal?
” vonster ”
WHY should Dennis ” stop it ” ? YOU don’t on that ranting blog of yours. Hypocrite!
OK. How the the f%%king world are the police supposed to find someone without a full description of the person involved in the crime? If they are black, then say so, just the same as if they were white. Give me a break! I have police scanners and they always give what the person is also wearing if available by any witnesses. Political Correctness BS is all this blog is. Grow up!
phxwolf2: Not a surprising comment from someone who lists “white pride” as an interest in his Blogger profile. A profile which, by the way, lists your real name as Randall Chapman, a 43-year-old former Texan now living in Peoria and working the the business services industry.
Didn’t all you assholes leave Peoria when Matt Hale got sent to federal prison?
Oh, and I found your Twitter page. I noticed your most recent tweet: “I am wondering why obama is still alive.”
@ Grannies now listening to scanner:
Call to WalMart on Allen Road, Adult Female, shoplifiting, no trouble.
Is that enough info for the officer? Why no other descriptors, race, clothes?
This is the norm, if the crime does not involve a BM.
Thanks billy for the shot out of my blog and twitter as I can use the hits!!!
Excuse me that should be shout out. I was overly excited about the exposure!
Thanks for taking a stand Billy.
And no, not all of the assholes are gone, though one of them who posted on some Peoria blogs is cooling his heels in Federal Prison at the moment. His Peoria Heights buddy joined another organization (no, I won’t link to their site)
Funny thing is this idiot thinks I’m linking to his site. I’m not (after some editing). Hee Hee.
[...] Some people are speaking out against bigotry though: I’m getting really sick of seeing news stories written like this one: Police say two black men, armed with guns, broke into a home in the 1700 block of Broadway around 2:00 a.m. Police believe the men took off in a car. [...]