I wish there was more accountability of the commercial news media for promotion of violence πŸ—‘

I wish there was more accountability of the commercial news media for promotion of violence πŸ—‘

Rarely are there calls to arrest news reporters, journalists and the CEOs of media conglomerates except by the most fringe politicians. While using the justice system against the free press could be abused, there is no accountability in the current system that allows journalists to revel in violence and news organizations CEOs to profit over violence.

All the evidence points to violence causing violence. You report and revel in violence and mayham, you normalize violence and encourage more of it. News reporters have become more careful about how they talk about suicide these days but not violence. They even go so far to remind people that mental health services are available for suicidal individuals but no such disclaimers exists after stories about violence.

There is news and public discourse value in reporting and analysis of crime and violence statistics in the aggregate. If a highway or public building is closed due to an incident, then the news should report it. Are there issues with police response, justice courts or other public officials actions? Report it. But private incidents of violence should remain private, and certainly not glorified by the press with stories of sobbing parents with dead children.

I support a ban on the commercialization of violence – that is the sale of violent video games, books, newspapers or television programs. But that doesn’t mean that private individuals shouldn’t have the right to express their own beliefs. But just not for profit or commercial purposes. There could be much greater restrictions on commercial speech without infringing on the individual’s right to speak on issues of concern. You don’t need to own a printing company to be heard any more today.

Ice L.O.B.

Looking down at the Legislative Office Building from the Alfred E Smith Building in 2008, after the big ice storm of December 2008 covered everything with ice.

Taken on Friday December 12, 2008 at Ice Storm 2008.

Opinion | How Can You Destroy a Person’s Life and Only Get a Slap on the Wrist? – The New York Times

Opinion | How Can You Destroy a Person’s Life and Only Get a Slap on the Wrist? – The New York Times

Prosecutors are among the most powerful players in the criminal justice system. They can send a defendant off to years in prison, or even to death row. Most wield this power honorably. Yet, when prosecutors don’t, they rarely pay a price, even for repeated and egregious misconduct that puts innocent people behind bars.

Why? Because they are protected by layers of silence and secrecy that are written into local, state and federal policy, shielding them from any real accountability for wrongdoing.

New York City offers a prime example of a problem endemic to the nation. Consider the city’s official reaction to the barrelful of misconduct in Queens that a group of law professors recently brought to light. As The Times reported last month, the professors filed grievances against 21 prosecutors in the borough — for everything from lying in open court to withholding key evidence from the defense — and then posted those grievances to a public website.