PNJ v. Miami Herald

I have really been hit by how differently the Miami Herald is treating the death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old shot by a neigh­bor­hood watch cap­tain, versus how the Pensacola News Journal covered the homicide of teenager Victor Steen, the teen run over and killed by a PPD officer.

The Miami Herald has been relentless, looking at new angles daily. The PNJ had momentary flurry, thanks to its young reporters who happened to be near where the accident occurred, but the paper’s editorial board did little to challenge PPD.

Part of the problem may be the lack of leadership from our local civil rights groups, or more accurately, their lack of effectiveness. Another reason could south Florida has Democrat state legislators who are speaking out. None of our representatives–all Republicans–are going to say anything to upset NRA or the House leadership.

But even then, the onus still is on our Gannet-owned daily, whose editorial stances baffle me as much today as they did 13 years ago when I started this paper.

Its editorial yesterday against A.A. Dixon chaps me. Why brand the school a failure before its kids even take the FCAT? Yes, it’s a long shot whether it will pull up its grade above a F, but why kick them now? …so the PNJ editorial board late proudly say, “I told you so”?

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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