Saturday, April 7, 2012 at 6:27PM Covering the Trayvon Martin story: Readers take sides; The Herald can’t
On stories like the death of Trayvon Martin, we must redouble our efforts to be neutral arbiters.
BY AMINDA MARQUES GONZALEZ
Watching the reactions on social media to the unfolding aftermath of Trayvon Martin’s tragic death is a study of American life and attitudes.
As news gatherers — and an organization pursuing all aspects of this story — Miami Herald reporters and editors have witnessed this up close and personal.
When we revealed details of George Zimmerman’s penchant for police work and prolific calls to authorities, some in the Twitterverse cheered us for disclosing the information. Last week, when we reported details about Trayvon’s suspensions from Michael M. Krop High School, many responded angrily, suggesting that revealing the new details was an attempt to justify the death of the Miami Gardens teen.
When we are dealing with a topic that is sensitive and emotional, readers take sides. We cannot. Our role and responsibility is to provide as much information as possible — even those details that some would rather not hear — in an even-handed and nonsensational manner.
This is all the more important in what may be the first racially charged story to play out in the new media landscape where social media dominates, fueling the story nationally. Consider this: Twitter came online in early 2006, the same year that the Jena Six story broke, in which six black teenagers were charged in the beating of a white student amid escalating racial tensions.
Today, the shooting of the unarmed 17-year-old by a neighborhood crime watch captain has galvanized a national movement. When we in the media are dealing with a complex, nuanced story, our job as neutral arbiter is even more important.
There is an insatiable thirst for information and answers in a story with far too many holes. A story on Page 1 of this Sunday’s paper by Frances Robles attempts to fill those gaps, cataloguing what is known and what is not.
Meanwhile, the void of information is sometimes being filled with speculation and inaccuracies.
Since Trayvon Martin’s shooting on Feb. 26, The Miami Herald alone has reported dozens of elements to this story. Each new element adds another layer to help explain this tragedy — from Trayvon’s dream of a career in aviation to Zimmerman’s interest in criminal justice.
The full context is in the totality of our coverage. As new details emerge, we work hard not only to get the information right but to put it in the proper context of our overall coverage. Those discussions are taking place several times a day inside the newsroom — from which photos to use and with what stories, to where to place those stories online and in the newspaper.
For example, the day we learned details of Trayvon’s three suspensions, we played that story below a Page 1 story that examined how anger over handling of the case had spurred a new wave of political activism. When we used the photo of Trayvon in his hoodie, we did so alongside a story that explained the hoodie as a symbol.
There is still much we don’t know — and it will likely take some time before we understand all of the circumstances surrounding Trayvon’s death. Meanwhile, we will continue to press for answers on both sides over the coming days and weeks.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/31/2724660/covering-the-travon-martin-story.html#storylink=cpy
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