OK, WPTA, Which Is It?

Media elite like to complain that their audience is ignorant and confused, and must depend on them for information and direction. 

Then the media elite do something like this. 

They tease their news story with a factually ignorant Tweet:

But their news story says something different:

So, who officially ruled the death a homicide? New Haven PD, or the Allen County coroner? 

To be clear, by Indiana statute, only the county coroner can make the official determination when it comes to cause of death (blunt-force trauma) and manner of death (homicide). While the New Haven police are reliable professionals, they are not entitled by Indiana statute to make the determination that WPTA indicates they did in the Tweet promoting their story. 

Simply stated, the media elite are either lazy or just as confused as the audience they like to ridicule.

Ignorance or arrogance? Maven thinks its a little of both.  

WFFT Skips A Few Steps......

Another senseless murder. 

Another media outlet reports "facts" without attribution, substantiation, or corroboration that may make it more difficult to prosecute the alleged shooter. 

Usually, when someone is accused of a crime, media goes out of their way to say "alleged" shooter or the suspect "allegedly" shot someone, as well as inserting phrases like "police say" or "according to police". Not here. 

Read the second sentence.....

"Rivera shot and killed Jacob Walerko Thursday night in an attempted robbery."

WFFT does not cite a source, instead stating for a fact that Mr. Rivera is responsible for the death of Mr Walerko. 

From all indications, that is most likely the case, but it's not something a journalist would put in print or publish without citing police, prosecutors or other law enforcement official. Usually there's a trial, a jury and a verdict......just like on Law & Order on TV.

If this case does go to trial, be assured the defense will ask for a change of venue, given that "my client has already been convicted in the media" while waving around a copy of the WFFT news story during preliminary hearing phase.

You can read the story here:
http://www.wfft.com/content/news/Suspect-arrested-in-Meijer-gas-station-shooting-victim-identified-459822083.html

Search Warrants Take On Human Form and Function

OK, kids. Here's how it works:

1. A judge issues a search warrant.

2. The police serve the search warrant and

3. Seach the premises or area specified for the item or items specified. 

Please note, the search warrant is a piece of paper, it is not capable of performing human tasks....such as searching. That is done by police officers, real humans.

To state in your news story that "several stolen items were seized during the search warrant" is not correct. The items were seized during a "search", NOT a search warrant. 

Oh, and by the way, it's Daylight SAVING time. There is no S on SAVING. Check your AP Style book for that.....it's over in the corner of the news room.....under the lipgloss and eye makeup.