Hyped Crime Coverage

On February 28, the three Grand Rapids based TV station spent a tremendous amount of time on the escape & capture of an African American male prisoner in Kent County. WOOD 8 spent a total of 32 minutes and 21 seconds combined on the 5:30, 6 & 11pm newscasts, WZZM 13 spent 33 minutes and 38 seconds on their 5:30, 6 & 11pm newscasts, and WXMI 17 spent 8 minutes and 25 seconds on their 10pm newscast. Clearly this was a public safety issue, but did it deserve this much attention? Never have we seen during the evening newscasts this much time devoted to a single election story or factory closing or other major local public interest story. Was there special attention given to this story because he is charged with shooting a police officer? Does the fact that he is an African American male have any impact on shaping public opinion? These are all questions that need to be asked of the TV stations.

Contact:

WOOD TV 8
News Director: Patti McGettigan
Phone #: 771-9366
E-mail: patti.mcgettigan@woodtv.com

WXMI FOX 17
News Director: Tim Dye
Phone #: (616) 364-1717
E-mail: tdye@wxmi.com

WZZM 13
News Director: Tim Geraghty
Phone #: (616) 785-1313
E-mail: tgeraght@wzzm.gannett.com