Local news reports
A spokesperson with the Knox County Sheriff's Department says an officer at the Detention Center in East Knox County accidentally discharged his gun injuring three fellow officers Friday night.
According to the sheriff's website, a bullet from Officer James Blankenship's gun fired into the pavement causing shrapnel to strike three other officers.
This happened around 10:30 p.m.One was taken to UT Medical Center to be treated for a minor leg wound. He was released. The other two were treated at the jail.
The sheriff's spokesperson says Blakenship was taken to UT Medical Center to be treated for chest pains. He is at fault according to the preliminary investigation.
The website states that Blankenship is on paid administrative leave for the remainder of the investigation.
Is it just me, or has the reporting of these incidents improved? This is the second case in as many days in which the reporter got it right - the officer "accidentally discharged his gun."
Well, I still object to the use of "accidentally," but at least it's in the active voice and the gun doesn't seem to have been responsible.
Again, it’s not up to the reporter. It all depends on the information they have to report on:
ReplyDeleteA spokesperson with the Knox County Sheriff's Department says…
According to the sheriff's website…
The sheriff's spokesperson says…
…according to the preliminary investigation.
The website states that…
But you’ll notice that the Sheriff’s website also uses that passive voice that you hate:
…a bullet from Officer James Blankenship's gun fired into the pavement causing shrapnel to strike three other officers.
That's total bullshit, TS. It usually is totally up to the reporter. Don't you remember the ridiculous justifications for the passive voice usage that your side offered, that it's in order to avoid law suits?
DeleteNot just lawsuits- it's also called "journalistic integrity". Their job is to show up and report on facts, not make a bunch of guesses.
DeleteBut what do you say about the five examples from this report which support my view?
Is it a part of journalistic integrity to say things like, "the gun went off" or "the gun discharged?" That is how they usually render it with nary a complaint from the gun owners who love to diminish their personal responsibility wherever possible.
DeleteMikeb, yes or no, do you seriously believe that journalists in any large numbers are gun-rights supporters?
DeleteYou're the only one who's hung up on that. It's a literal statement of fact which is part of journalistic integrity. People don't read that and think the gun must be rabid and put down. And even if they did, how on earth does it help the pro-gun cause if people think guns magically go off by themselves?
DeleteAgain, I gave you five examples from the brief report where things like fault are attributed to a source and not just the reporter's take on it. How about you show me a non-gun example of how you'd like to see reporting done that doesn't match what I have been saying?
DeleteI don't think reporters do this purposely to help the pro-gun side. I think it's a matter of sloppy writing and poor English. Most people who write for these local papers are not first rate. Another factor is, since the New York Times and the Washington Post are often as guilty as the small town rag in Bumfuck Arkansas, that it's become almost a cliche' to say "it went off" or "the gun discharged" and using the accepted cliche' is easier and briefer than saying it the right way.
DeleteTS, I already told you I'm not the only one. Farago has written posts about this and he's about as gun-rights fanatical as one can be.
Bumfuck Arkansas? Are you suggesting some slur on gay people in this state?
Delete"He is at fault according to the preliminary investigation"
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that the newsfolk at least waited for at least part of the investigation to be concluded.