They Don't Teach That At Ball State

It's become apparent to the Maven that Physics and Thermodynamics are not part of the Journalism curriculum at Ball State University. 

Why else would an otherwise intelligent WANE-15 reporter insist that the windows of a minivan, parked next to a burning home would have been "blown out" by an explosion which triggered a house fire without first blowing down the walls of the house?

Look closely at the photo (provided by a viewer) showing the home engulfed in a raging fire. Notice, also, that the minivan windows are intact. 

The second photo, taken after the fire was extinguished, and the fire scene secured, clearly show the windows in the minivan are broken, missing. 

The Maven asked a retired firefighter if he could provide an explanation. His response was that the minivan windows, more than likely, melted and cracked due to the prolonged heat of the fire. He also indicated that, while there may have been an explosion, if it were powerful enough to blow the windows out of a minivan, it would also have been powerful enough to splinter the wood-frame house into a billion toothpicks, as well. 

This is the second news story from the kids in the WANE-15 news room that has leaned toward conjecture and relied less on facts. 

While a news story my abhor a vacuum, it would be better for all if you don't have facts, then don't rely on your Ball State education to qualify you as an expert in Physics and Thermodynamics in order to advance a theory of what happened. 

Thanks to Maven reader "Dave", for the tip about this story. 

Where Are The PIOs?

Tuesday night, January 25, two men were shot just after 10:00 pm. in the vicinity of South Calhoun.
Just where on South Calhoun, appears to be a point of contention. 

According to the kids in the million-dollar WANE-15 newsroom, the incident happened in the 2700 block of South Calhoun. 

Meanwhile, Brien's crew at WPTA ABC21 agrees and reports the shooting in the 2700 block of South Calhoun. 

However, down the hall from WPTA ABC21, Fort Wayne's NBC folks report the gunfire in the 2800 block of South Calhoun. 

And the ever-accurate Journal Gazette places the shooting in the 2500 block of South Calhoun. 

So, the Maven has to ask "which is it"?

In fairness to the news gathering folks, it should be noted that not one of the stories the Maven read quoted a police source, so absent official word from the authorities, the kids in the newsrooms appear to have done the best jobs they could given the absence of FWPD PIO representatives. 

Maybe the real question should be: was it too cold for the FWPD PIOs  to work, but it was OK for the reporters and reporter-ettes to endure the sub-zero weather?

Tone Deaf or Trying To Be Cute?

Is this an attempt at being "cute"? Or is the writer tone deaf to the issues of guns and gun violence. 

Or both?

Check the highlighted excerpts. What's your conclusion?

The use of the phrases "taking another shot" and "shot down" could have been replaced with a number of better phrases to accomplish the same meaning. 

No matter what side of the issue the audience may embrace, the debate surrounding firearms and gun violence is a serious one and the Maven believes the use of "creative or innovative copy writing (AKA being cute) does not serve the audience well

And as for the phrase "people downtown" is ambiguous. Really ambiguous.