Results tagged “journalism” from Crime & Courts

In a murder trial just getting underway in Albany, New York, the District Attorney asked the media agencies covering the case to refrain from using names of some of the witnesses - mostly children. The prosecutor's request was based on the belief that the "don't snitch" culture of gangs could jeopardize the case.

This is a conversation I have with prosecutors on a pretty regular basis. We are often asked to withhold names of witnesses for various reasons, including witness intimidation issues, safety concerns and privacy. It's a difficult decision many news rooms must grapple with, as it pits our First Amendment rights and the public's right to know in direct conflict with the well-being of people or justice.

Sometimes, witnesses don't understand that their names are fair game when on the record, and that causes problems after a story is printed.

We never use names of sexual assault victims without direct permission, and do take extra precautions when writing about children involved in crimes.

That being said, we do weigh our decisions on a case-by-case basis. Know that our intent, as journalists, is not to make tragic situations worse for anybody. But we have a job to do, and we are constantly trying to balance our responsibilities with such issues in mind.

I'm trying hard to update the story on the two 13-year-old girls who were injured yesterday in Wilmington by an alleged hit-and-run driver. What I'm up against in this endeavor are some pretty classic reporting hurdles exacerbated by two of the area's largest bureacracies: LAPD and LAUSD.

While trying to see how Wilmington Middle School administrators and students are dealing with this traumatic event, I stopped by to speak with a principal, assistant principal ... whoever would help. After checking in with security, showing my press credentials and receiving a visitor's badge, I waited at the main office for someone to see me. And waited. And waited.

After about 20 minutes I was told that no one would see me and, as I was digging out a business card, a woman strode by telling me she was an assistant principal. Guessing that I was to go with her on the premise that she would talk to me about such things as grief counselors and such, I stood up and walked beside her ... as she led me swiftly out the school's gates. She explained that I was not "invited" and the school was in "crisis mode," so no one could speak with me. I explained that I had a visitor's badge, so was thus "invited" on to the public campus and, yes, the crisis is why I was there. The community wants to know how the students and the classmates are feeling, and how the school is helping. No dice.

On the other end, I'm doing the usual reporter type things by trying to get information about the suspect, Rigaldo Guevas. However, it appears he hasn't been booked in the county jail - despite LAPD's media relations officers insisting he has. It's from a suspect's booking sheet that we get a birthday, which, in the reporting world, is the key to such things as driving and criminal records. Media relations won't release his birthdate, either. Attempts to reach someone at the Harbor Division so far have only been met with busy signals and waits on hold so long I've been forced to hang up.

So there you have it, a behind-the-scenes look at the hurdles we routinely face in our attempt to bring information to our community. Unfortunate, isn't it?