Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Media reports gay violence up ... maybe

The Associated Press reports that the New York Anti-Violence Project is reporting that there might be an increase in anti-gay violence. They don't have any numbers to back up the claim. "Officials are still crunching 2008 figures, which will be released next spring," the report says, but Sharon Stapel, the project's executive director cites two incidents.

Two.

Since when do news organizations write stories based on facts that might be? Can you imagine a conservative organization getting earned media for saying what it thinks might turn up in a report it is releasing next year?

Meanwhile, check out the same group's 2007 report on the real problem regarding violence against gays: "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Domestic Violence in the United States in 2007." In this case, we have actual numbers: 3,319 reported incidents.

That's 3,319 incidents vs. ... two. And which does the media report?

Maybe I can send out a press release saying there might be rise in the incidents of hate speech by gay rights groups directed at conservatives and promise a report next year.

Wonder how much coverage that would get.
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1 comment:

  1. One Brow12:11 PM

    Since when do news organizations write stories based on facts that might be? Can you imagine a conservative organization getting earned media for saying what it thinks might turn up in a report it is releasing next year?

    Yes, in fact I'm pretty sure that has happened from time to time, if teh annoucement is sensational enough.

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