As I thought about that previous post, the part of me that is quick to jump on any sort of white bias wondered why these attacks got so much coverage, relative to the incidents that undoubtedly occur citywide on a daily basis. Why does a robbery, or two or three, on Michigan Avenue or on the Red Line CTA get the attention of multiple media outlets when Englewood shootings, South Side beatings and Back of the Yards child neglect get 100 words on the Trib's Breaking News ticker? At first glance, it's maddening to think that because the mob scene haunted fancier hoods the issue got more press. The portion of non-whites, it seemed to me, was indirectly proportional to the amount - and perhaps perceived value - of reporting on a given area.
But on second reflection, I was able to set down the jaded a bit. These were crimes in close succession, supposedly stemming from the same set of perpetrators. The victims were seemingly random, and the criminals appeared to target people with electronic toys (iPods and the like) in tow. In short, I now think there were many things about these crimes, aside from their whereabouts, that made them worthy of heightened coverage.
Am I off base? Did this receive undue discussion? Could/Should it have been talked about more? Why do you think this story was covered as it was? Would it get the same attention if it happened in Englewood?
Photo Credit: Jordan Fischer/The Examiner
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