Tuesday morning, City Councilor Chuck Turner’s office released a 20 year study of homicides in Boston.

Perhaps the most profound discovery was that the study found that in over half of the murders in the last 10 years there were no arrests. The study also notes that young people ages 14-25 are the most likely to be victims of homicide. The study resulted in the formation of Community Uniting for Change, an association of several stakeholders who will engage in community dialogue with the goal of reducing the violence in Boston. Press Pass TV’s Richard Prophete caught up with some of these community stakeholders at the press conference for the study.

We have had an overwhelming wave of support in helping us get our story out there the last few days. We want to thank everyone for their work and commitment, including Vanessa Rhinesmith at Left Behind Bottle Caps, Jenn Pozner at WIMN FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting) and of course the Dorchester Reporter and Open Media Boston who stepped up to support youth media from the start.

We’ve also gotten a lot of support via Twitter, Facebook and listervs on media and media reform. Thanks to all who are using their people power to spread the word!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Cara Lisa Powers
Press Pass TV
617.288.4917
cara@presspasstv.org
www.presspasstv.org

Boston Based Youth Program Breaks Story; Distorted by NBC Affiliate

Boston, MA, 4/1/09 – Students from youth non-profit Press Pass TV were excited on Monday when some local outlets carried a story that they broke over the weekend. On Sunday, students visited the home of Darrin Howell, Director of Constituent Services for District 7, who called about the lack of coverage of a shooting outside his home on Friday. As youth journalists, they see the role of the news as an advocate for democracy. So when the Dorchester Reporter and Open Media Boston both carried their story, after students sent it out to several local outlets, including WHDH Channel 7 they were excited that their important work was reaching a broader audience.

Later Monday, Howell called Press Pass TV to let them know that a crew from WHDH had just left his home. Students were happy that their coverage had pushed a mainstream outlet to take on the overlooked story, but disappointed that they hadn’t been informed. They were even more disappointed that night, when in watching the story they observed much of the stereotypes and negativity that they work so hard to overcome in their own journalism.

In addition to several inconsistencies in the story, including misspelling Howell’s name and even leaving his young son out of the story altogether, they didn’t identify Howell’s important role in the community as a Director of Constituent Services. The story was sensationalist, ignored solutions, and didn’t address any of the root causes that Press Pass TV had identified in their story. They did however, interview the exact same people that Press Pass TV had interviewed the day before, and used almost identical b-roll- releasing their story 3 full days after the incident occurred and nearly 12 hours after being sent the Press Pass TV story.

According to Howell: “I am extremely appreciative for Press Pass TV taking the lead in following up on the shooting incident that occurred at my home. Although I’m grateful to Channel 7 for taking an interest after the fact and doing a story, the information given was inaccurate. They should have paid Press Pass TV for their work so that they could relay the scenario accurately.”

Not only did NBC’s WHDH chase a story already covered by youth without giving them any credit for breaking it, they also contributed to negative and stereotypical portrayals of the Dorchester community. Perhaps worst of all, they used this scare as an opportunity to dredge up the death of a young Dorchester man whose parents are still grieving, further perpetuating the stereotype that Dorchester is dangerous and menacing without addressing any of the issues that led to either shooting. The young people at Press Pass TV wish to use this injustice as an opportunity to hold WHDH accountable to to a higher journalistic standard and to the communities that they serve.

ABOUT PRESS PASS TV – Press Pass TV is a youth adult partnership non-profit located in Dorchester. Our mission is to produce socially responsible video journalism that promotes a more diverse media, empowers communities and increases civic engagement.

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