Sport and twinkies, bread and circuses. Mainstream media like The Baltimore Sun keep you distracted from the truly important real issues.
Showing posts with label Baltimore ugly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baltimore ugly. Show all posts
25 November 2012
Mainstream Media Misdirects Your Attention
Sport and twinkies, bread and circuses. Mainstream media like The Baltimore Sun keep you distracted from the truly important real issues.
19 November 2012
Got News? Choose Your Sources Wisely -- An Editorial
By A.F. James MacArthur Ph.A.L.
Every week, sometimes daily, we learn of more layoffs, buyouts, and closures of big, traditional, mainstream media outlets.
The Baltimore Sun is continuing to shrink. Both in staff, and worthwhile content. As a life-long avid consumer of news, the whole thing is somewhat disturbing to me.
On the other hand, companies like the The Baltimore Sun and their corporate parents Tribune media, are suffering a demise largely brought about by their own doing. For years Baltimore has had to endure a sort of junk journalism, diverting attention and focus from much of what really matters in.
With the dawn of the information age, news consumers have become more savvy, more sophisticated, and more quick to know b.s. (big stories) when they see it.
With the dawn of the information age, news consumers have become more savvy, more sophisticated, and more quick to know b.s. (big stories) when they see it.
ROLE OF MEDIA
A good assessment of the current state of affairs in Baltimore would reveal a place filled with criminal activity, corruption and grotesque waste. And that's just City Hall!
Deeper examination of the issues plaguing Charm City shows a large part of the problem being ignorance.
This ignorance is fostered, expanded and perpetuated by mainstream media outlets. They have long lost sight of what should be part of their fundamental core reasons for being. To inform, educate, enlighten and yes, even entertain the people. But somewhere along the way, the whole thing has fallen far out of balance.
When several people have been killed over the weekend,and police have little to no leads, no suspects, and a slim chances of solving the case, the top stories splashed on the front page for the last 72 hours really should be about more than just football and Twinkies.
Baltimore Youth Killed In Record Numbers
An open letter from a concerned citizen
Dear Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake:
I am a Baltimore city resident and I pay taxes.
Something this year has me very concerned, that is the increase in homicide deaths of young people 18 and 19 years old. In 2009 and 2010 there were 16 homicides in that group, in 2011 only 10. This year by November 18 there have been 21 young people in that age group brutally killed in Baltimore City and the year isn't over yet.
It is clear to me that circumstances for this group of teens have changed for the worse. I worry that some of these teens have suddenly become homeless on their 18th birthday because their parents lose their welfare, foodstamps, housing and other government benefits and their parents don't see the point in keeping these new adults in their homes.
And we all know that some of these troubled kids can't find any legal job that is lucrative enough to support even a subsistence lifestyle. Perhaps you can tell me what has changed recently to tell me why this group suddenly start being killed in record numbers and what you plan to do about it, if anything?
I care, but I doubt you or anyone else does. Years from now the CDC might release the results of some study that will show the same results but by that time many more will have died.
I'd rather have you get out in front of this problem right now, if you can fit it into your busy schedule.
Thank you,
Cham
Dear Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake:
I am a Baltimore city resident and I pay taxes.
Something this year has me very concerned, that is the increase in homicide deaths of young people 18 and 19 years old. In 2009 and 2010 there were 16 homicides in that group, in 2011 only 10. This year by November 18 there have been 21 young people in that age group brutally killed in Baltimore City and the year isn't over yet.
And we all know that some of these troubled kids can't find any legal job that is lucrative enough to support even a subsistence lifestyle. Perhaps you can tell me what has changed recently to tell me why this group suddenly start being killed in record numbers and what you plan to do about it, if anything?
I care, but I doubt you or anyone else does. Years from now the CDC might release the results of some study that will show the same results but by that time many more will have died.
I'd rather have you get out in front of this problem right now, if you can fit it into your busy schedule.
Thank you,
Cham
15 November 2012
VENGEANCE KILLING: Home Invasion Victim Had Criminal Record
By A.F. James MacArthur
Allen Horton, of the 2500 block of W. Lafeyette St. was killed, along with his brother Tuesday night, after two masked men burst into their home (see original story as broken by The Baltimore Spectator). Their mother was also shot and critically wounded. She is still alive.
Body Found Floating In Harbor
Police reported on twitter a woman was found floating in the water near Canton this morning. The tweet read like a water rescue. In reality, the woman was dead, and Baltimore Police Marine Unit performed a body recovery."4:48am: Our Marine Unit responded to 2300 Boston St (pier side) for a woman in the water. Victim transported to hospital by medics."
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) November 15, 2012
Baltimore City Fire Department paramedics transported the woman's body to Johns Hopkins University Hospital, where it will be claimed by the Office Of The Chief Medical Examiner.
Other news outlets reported the incident as a rescue. Apparently the concept of checking multiple sources and verifying information is a lost art in Baltimore media.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS ITEM BASED ON NEW INFORMATION
STORY CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON AND UPDATED. CHECK BACK FOR MORE DETAILS
14 November 2012
TRIPLE SHOOTING: Two dead after home invasion
City saw five shot in two hours.
Two men are dead and a woman is injured after a home invasion in West Baltimore. The incident took place on the 2500 block of W. Lafayette Avenue.
Baltimore Police and Baltimore City Fire Department paramedics arrived on scene late Tuesday night, at virtually the same time. A scene of sheer carnage was described by witnesses. Copious amounts of blood and brain matter splattered all over the living room of the house.
The incident began when two armed masked men kicked the door in. Once inside the main level of the home, they summoned for two young men who were upstairs in the residence at the time. The two young men, brothers, ages 19 and 23, were ordered to sit on the sofa.
According to sources with first hand knowledge of the incident, the victims were approached by the gunmen after sitting down. At that point both gunmen placed guns to the heads of their victims and shot them at point blank range, execution style.
The mother of the men received a bullet wound to the face. Her wound was described as a possibly grazing. She is not believed to be in life threatening condition. All victims were transported to an area hospital. The two men were dead on arrival.
Sources told The Baltimore Spectator, there were young children present in the home during the incident. It was not certain whether the children were eye witnesses of the murders or if other adults were present in the home. No information was provided on the status of care and supervision of the children in the aftermath of the shootings.
Baltimore Police have not named any known suspects or motive.
Earlier Double Shooting
Earlier Tuesday night, police responded to a local emergency room for a report of two "walk in" shooting victims. Investigators discovered a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Initially the original location of the shooting was not clear, but was determined to have taken place in the 2100 block of Callow Avenue.
Monday Also Had A Double Shooting
Baltimore police continue to investigate a double shooting that occurred Monday night in the Mondawmin neighborhood that left a man and a woman hospitalized.
The man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and the lady had a single gunshot wound to the leg. She told police she was shot in the 2000 block of McKean Avenue.
HEAR LIVE, ON SCENE REPORTING BY JAMES MACARTHUR
Part 1: Triple Shooting on scene report
Part 2: Triple Shooting, more info
Part 3: Final update, triple shooting
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For the last several years, A.F. James MacArthur has been the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
13 November 2012
BALTIMORE UGLY - Truth Hurts! - Justice For Annie
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
For the last several years, A.F. James MacArthur has been the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
For the last several years, A.F. James MacArthur has been the established leader in on-scene, feet-on-the-street, Baltimore crime and emergency incident reporting. Baltimore's premier independent crime correspondent and street reporter, is a multimedia journalist who also covers urban decay and public corruption. He may be reached at 410-205-NEWS (6397) voice or text message, MacArthurMedia@gmail.com, and followed on numerous social media, including: @BaltoSpectator on twitter , Spreaker web radio, BlogTalk Radio, Baltimore Spectator on Facebook,YouTube channel
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)