Black “leaders” repond to more violence

Analysis:

This story is based upon a media release sent out by a newly formed group in Grand Rapids, Black Elected Officials. From the information provided in the channel 8 story do you think viewers understand what the causes of the violence are and what this group plans to do about it? There is a summary of what the group plans on doing and it doesmention that a website is coming. What about the language that is used in framing this story? Half way through the story the reporter says “Vaughn realizes the winter months have chilled the summer’s flight on violence, examples seen in our July series highlighting the problem. One night, picked at random, that saw a stabbing, a shooting, a family birthday party turned brawl with knives.” The reporter doesn’t clarify what the July series that they did was about other than “random violence.” The story finishes with comments from the GR Police Department, but why weren’t other community-based violence prevention groups cited?

Story:

WOOD TV newsreader – They’re in it for the long hall. A group calling themselves Black Elected Officials, sent out a message today saying violence on Grand Rapids South East side is out of control. Now the group is launching an attack of its own. Brad Edwards is live in the news room, he spoke with one of the leaders today, Brad.

Reporter – Sick and tired of being sick and tired of singing the song of too much violence? A loose alliance now of leaders vows to fight the fight for the long hall citing staggering stats like 33 shootings on the South East side in 3 months last year. Now they say they’re launching a war on apathy. Christopher James Vaughn is one of the leaders signed on to the initiative in the fight, he says, for the long run.

James Vaughn – “we got to reach out to help them and we got ot solve the problem. Were not going to win on the system solving this problem. We got to get out there and roll up our sleeves and we gonna help solve this problem.”

Unidentified person – “But you realize you’re not going to solve anything by a press release?”

James Vaughn – “No, now a press release is to get everybody aware of what’s going on…”

Reporter – Vaughn realizes the winter months have chilled the summer’s flight on violence, examples seen in our July series highlighting the problem. One night, picked at random, that saw a stabbing, a shooting, a family birthday party turned brawl with knives. The biggest challenge, says Vaughn, is apathy. Kids who just don’t care.

James Vaughn – “…when youre looking at eyes and looking at face you realize that there is no hope and no purpose and no direction. They don’t, you know, tomorrow, they don’t care if tomorrow don’t come…”

Reporter – They’ve rallied community agencies in hopes of connecting troubled kids with the right help. They’re setting up a website, a phone line, working with ministers and parents. One example, getting the undereducated the needed training at places like M-TEC career development, education of course a key. Really you’ve heard it before but now they say…

James Vaughn – “yeah this is, we just said enough is enough. You know when you get sick and tired of being sick and tired of seeing the same thing happen over and over again…”

Reporter – We spoke with a lieutenant at the Grand Rapids Police Department, he says they support any effort to get more involvement. The biggest battle, the commissioner says, is making violence unacceptable, no longer tolerable in the community. Reporting live in the news room, Brad Edwards, 24 hour News 8.