Thread by @ScottHech

A shameful disgrace from the @AP. Masquerading as “news.” 2 reporters fill up thousands of words letting privileged San Franciscans spew disgust, disparagements, & anger at people in need of help. Buried in the middle of this hateful screed is the fact that crime in SF is down.

https://twitter.com/AP/status/1469759011679571974

The @AP’s screed is filled w/anecdotes of disgust. Sensationalism & hatred. “Lawlessness and squalor.” “Trashy streets.” “Urban ills.” “Mobs.” “A man who’s looked like a zombie.” “Someone w/ a ski mask” they assumed were “up to no good.” When did the AP become the NY Post?

With this type of actively harmful “journalist tour” of poverty, mental health, & substance use, the @AP joins infamous rags & tabloids like the @nypost. Is this the company you want to keep, @AP? Is this the standard for which you strive?

https://twitter.com/scotthech/status/1441872052789518336

With this type of actively harmful “journalist tour” of poverty, mental health, & substance use, the @AP joins the racist head of the NYPD Union Ed Mullins now under federal investigation. Is this the company you want, @AP? Is this the standard for which you strive?

https://twitter.com/ScottHech/status/1445397535095459841

Perhaps the biggest tell in this fact-free, hate-filled @AP story: “A series of headline-grabbing crime stories has only exacerbated a general feeling of vulnerability.” The reporters acknowledge their own role & the power of media to control public opinion *while doing it.*

To the @AP & reporters @OlgaRRod & @janiehar: I wrote recently about how even well-intentioned journalists enable the carceral status quo. Offer a roadmap for how to do better journalism on crime & punishment. Please read. Please. Here: thenation.com/article/societ…

Another important thread on this failure of journalism by the @AP, @janiehar & @OlgaRRod. And the choices reporters make about what is a “relevant” story & what doesn’t matter.

https://twitter.com/equalityalec/status/1469770321511124995

Another important thread on this failure of journalism by @AP @janiehar & @OlgaRRod. How they actually *create* the very moral panic, disgust, & hatred that they then report on as a “story.”

https://twitter.com/davidminpdx/status/1469785905133023232

I just recently spoke with @AWKWORDrap on how media is all-too-willingly — or negligently — spreading police propaganda. And why police are more desperate than ever for the trick to work. @AP — please stop this. It’s been a half century of this pattern. Time for something new.

https://twitter.com/awkwordrap/status/1469058490878550016

It took the @AP 14 paragraphs of fearmongering, hatred, & sensationalism to feed the perception about crime being out of control to get to the fact that, actually, “crime has been trending down.”

https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1469837016405876736

Looked through some of reporter @OlgaRRod’s additional reporting. Hoping this was an aberration. They’re on the copaganda beat apparently. Olga, I say this with all sincerity: can we please talk about this, how harmful it is, & to improve your work? DM is open. Welcome a convo.

This point. @AP reporting is even more dangerous because it’s picked up in so many markets. So much misinformation. So much fear. Amplified across the country. Does anyone know how to track where this was printed.

https://twitter.com/justpersnickety/status/1469852616578396165