Covering the news

Yesterday, I asked to cover a press conference called by the CHP as part of their effort to find clues in the search for a killer who shot a woman to death on the 10 freeway late Wednesday night.

I worte a version of the story for the Tribune, which didn't appear in the newspaper-- but is online here.

That same version of the story was put in a common folder used at our sister paper the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Here's that version.

What's interesting to me (and my reason for sharing the stories) is to point out how news can vary from community to community -- even when those communities are only a few miles apart. The Pomona story absolutely needed the context of pointing out that two shootings occurred there in a short period of time. On the other hand, the story for SGVN didn't really need the context of Pomona, but is important because of the San Bernardino Freeway connection.

Here's the original photo caption:

California Highway Patrol commander Bill Siegl (cq) asks for the help of any witnesses to a freeway shooting on the eastbound San Bernardino (10) Freeway at White Avenue in Pomona at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday March 12, 2008.   The victim, Deborah Lynn Lepper, 54, of Montclair, died at an area hospital a few hours after the shooting.  Siegl is pictured at a press conference at the Baldwin Park CHP station March 13, 2008.(SGVN/Staff photo by Leo Jarzomb/SVCITY)