Thread by @ScottHech

THREAD: I critique the NYT when they publish problematic reporting on crime & punishment. Allowing speculation on short-run stats. Sensationalizing. Failing to provide critical context. Today, I want to highlight what they did right in this story. More: nytimes.com/2021/11/15/us/…

Although the headline’s use of the word “surge” is sensational & can lead to gut-reaction misperceptions, the NYT’s subtitle clarifies the universal nature of the increase (“cities, towns, rural areas”) & stresses right away that “reasons are elusive.”

NYT is careful to couch more recent increase in homicides within important context: (1) homicides are still at historic lows & far lower than in 90s, (2) homicides make up a tiny fraction of all crime, (3) overall major crimes continued their decline, (4) homicides slowing again.

Within the first few paragraphs, the NYT identifies, explicitly, how crime data & outlier tragedies like homicides are used by politicians to score cynical political points ("injecting the politics of crime) & play off public fear ("leaving the public unnerved") to win.

The NYT acknowledges the fact that short-run crime data is volatile, & that despite an understandable desire to know answers "it could take years of data collection before phenomenon is fully understood." This is important. Cops use & media publish dangerous speculation often.

Not once did the NYT allow police to speculate about "bail reform" or "protest" or lie that "defund" were causes of any short term rise in homicides. This may seem like a very low bar to celebrate. But given the state of justice journalism recently, this is a major improvement.

Better data visualizations. In the past, NYT has published graphs making it seem like homicides are historically off the charts by comparing short term increases instead of long term trends. This was a breath of fresh air.

Lastly, for now, although I'm sure to find more, the NYT focused in on specific cases of homicides & got granular to avoid creating generalized panic over "violence in the streets," but to show how complicated, & more often than not, interpersonal violence is.

I wrote last month about NYT's (& other outlets) problematic reporting on the rise in homicides & provided a roadmap for how journalists can start thinking about doing better. Doubt this piece had anything to do w/ it & still long way to go, but pleased.thenation.com/article/societ…