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The Editor's Log

Bringing race into the story. Or not.

Some readers criticized us for inserting race into this story about the makeup of the city's boards and commissions and for NOT including race in this one about violent crime.

One commenter on the city boards story wrote: Interesting that you are broke out participants by race & sex for this article but did not do the same for today's article titled "String of Shootings Keeps Police Busy"

Another wrote: Another biased article by Amanda solely for the purpose of stirring the pot! Why can't the N&R get off the race-card wagon and report on things that are worthwhile.

Yet another wrote to me: I say with certainty that the racial make-up of the shootings in Greensboro since June 1st aren't representative of the community.  How about it Mr. Robinson, does the News and Record have the fortitude to do a real "shooting / homicide" story covering the past 5 or 10 years?  I doubt it.  I can assure you the diversity breakdown isn't representative of the community. 

We know that whenever race is brought into the discussion, it incites some people. Here's the deal from our end.

The city's boards story isn't about race so much as it is about the influence or the real estate industry on city boards. The use of the word "diversity" in the story headline apparently threw some people off. But diversity means more than race. In this case, it means the professions of the appointees and the interests they are representing when they speak for citizens. It is out of whack. The percentages on race and gender were added to give perspective to the discussion but it is a minor topic in the overall story. In fact, the racial breakdown is not terribly out of whack with the overall population.  

The crime story isn't about race, either as much as some want it to be. Does knowing the race of the people shot help you understand why violent crime in the past month is on the rise? I doubt it. Does knowing the gender or profession of the victims? I wouldn't think so, although the idea that we have a lot of, say, accountants being shot is interesting.
 
Anyway, the story is clear that that the reason violent crime is on the rise is because of domestic incidents and drug deals. The map published in the paper (not online) shows where the crimes occurred.
 
Violent crime is not representative of the community at whole, and the story doesn't suggest it is.
 
Whenever we mention race in a story, people get stirred up. We try to mention race when it is relevant. Relevancy, of course, depends on one's perspective.
 
I mentioned this to a friend who said: Race is relevant to white people when it makes minorities look bad. Race is relevant to minorities when it supports their cause.
 
I hope not.
Posted by John Robinson on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm

Comments

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kikablue

June 28, 2009 - 6:50 pm EDT

Mr. Robinson, you say violent crime is on the rise, the police say it is on a decline. Which is it? It's getting to the point the public cannot believe news on the t.v., newspaper, or what the police say. I could care less if we have a Black, a White , Hispanic,an Indian, or Bugs Bunny, as Mayor, Police Chief, police officers, firemen/women just as long as they do their job for the city and the citizens. I do know that the violence is way out of control, and something has got to be done. Just like the man that was stabbed at Club Rain, they always have trouble there. And no I don't go there, I can see and hear the police sirens when they are going there because of trouble. It happens every time they are open. So why are they not closed down. Is the City waiting for Murders to happen, is that what it takes to get something done?The laws need to be stricter than they are. I would much rather have a lot bigger jail, and a bigger prison farm than all the money wasted on the ball park and other dumb things. The news also reported about South Elm Street, talking about the stores and restaurants. They left out all the BARS on South Elm. Why not publish the truth instead of just part of it.

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 8:37 am EDT

Violent crime for the past month is on the rise, as I said.

SueP

June 28, 2009 - 7:05 pm EDT

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this - race could be a factor in both stories and should be reported. The boards & commissions thing is a well-known issue. Good people who would make great volunteers can't get their foot in the door for lack of knowing a city councilperson/county commish personally and that often filters into race (as well as to lots of other factors). If crime statistics bear out that a significantly greater number of one racial group is victim to shootings, then that's news, IMO. If it's not true, then say that.

OT: We don't have a good process for appointing people to boards and commissions and concomitantly, many residents don't get the idea that you may have to serve on one more more 'low-level' groups before getting a prime seat (which are seriously limited in number). The process could stand improving and city council members/commishes might want to remember that their constituents are broader than the people who contribute to their campaigns or are known to them personally.

Back on topic: shootings and the resulting police business takes away from protecting the rest of the citizens and if we have to concentrate police presence and effort in some neighborhoods and if those neighborhoods are defined racially, well, it impacts everyone else. If that's related to race, then it's news. If it's not, then you could have just written that.

(Note to flamers: I could have taken an hour and written this better. I'll probably regret posting this.)

Tony Wilkins

June 28, 2009 - 9:41 pm EDT

John Robinson says: "We try to mention race when it is relevant."
You must have been busting a gut laughing while typing that one.
What you meant to say was "we try to market racism whether it is relevant or not".
Impressed with my mind reading skills?
The above is one of your lamer excuses in trying to sell a newspaper while you continue to harm racial relations in our city.
There are people that you and Goldie can talk to that will help you get out of the 1960's.

triadwatch

June 28, 2009 - 11:40 pm EDT

here is what the title should have been, "TREBIC CARTEL Slams Cronies on Greensboro Boards and Commissions",
It would be also helpful to name names as well like the brooks pierce connection on boa and the collins and galyon connection on zoning , also the mike barber treasurer on zoning as well. You also missed the total TREBIC CARTEL on the land development ordinance committee which david wharton has talked about as well. That is a article in and of itself.

On a side note why did you need the neighborhood congress on this one? That report didn't need any assistance.

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 8:41 am EDT

Tony, I didn't bust a gut, but I did smile thinking about the sort of reaction this would get. People's opinions are pretty consistent on this topic.

Given your comment about harming race relations, I guess you're thinking it was right not to mention race in the crime story and it wasn't necessary in the boards story?

brian444

June 29, 2009 - 2:45 am EDT

Gee, I wonder why people got the wrong idea? Because the headline announces a "lack of diversity" (understood by any literate person as having primarily to do with race, ethnicity, and gender--e.g., if I were to suggest that a church or a community group lacked diversity, would anyone seriously think that I was talking about it having too many or two few pastry chefs or lawyers)? Or maybe it was because the first two pieces of information focused on race and gender?

Perhaps you should have your writers generate headlines and introductory material that's relevant to what you correctly identify as the real story: the influence of real estate professionals on these boards. Just a suggestion.

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 8:42 am EDT

I'll buy that, brian. But then anyone who actually reads the story might have noticed that the story didn't have much to do with race.

bubba

June 29, 2009 - 11:59 am EDT

"But then anyone who actually reads the story might have noticed that the story didn't have much to do with race."

It didn't have to deal with race.

Sometimes, it's not WHAT'S said, or HOW it's said, it's what is NOT said.

It's become apparent to many of us that you are well aware of that philosophy, and encourage it among your writers.

Your typical "who, me/us?" response on this subject has long ago ceased to be credible.

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 12:07 pm EDT

You got me there, Bubba. But help me understand you: Race should have been a larger part of the story on boards or it should have not been mentioned at all?

bubba

June 29, 2009 - 3:29 pm EDT

"But help me understand you: Race should have been a larger part of the story on boards or it should have not been mentioned at all?"

That's irrelevant to the point.

When taken in context of your history and your writers' history on the subject of race, what was implied in the story was obvious.

For another paper, another editor, another staff whose reputation(s) is/are untarnished in this area, your question would be relevant.

I

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 3:37 pm EDT

Ah, got it.

Sounds to me like there's no way to win then. Well, at least, we got it right when we didn't mention race in the violent crime story.

bubba

June 29, 2009 - 3:40 pm EDT

"Ah, got it."

No you don't.

Your history in this area establishes that clearly.

Your smart-ass reply doesn't change that.

John Robinson

June 29, 2009 - 3:46 pm EDT

Sorry to touch that nerve, bubba. Seriously, then, you've outlined a scenario where it's impossible for us to do what you think is right.

Aside from the fact that you don't say what you'd have us do in these two specific cases and why, you say that you know where we're coming from based on history. That, and implication. What did we imply about race in the two stories in question?

bubba

June 29, 2009 - 9:27 pm EDT

"Seriously, then, you've outlined a scenario where it's impossible for us to do what you think is right."

No, you've created that scenario in your mind.

Here's what I'd like to see from you and the paper: Stop the championing of the racial identity crowd's agenda, and stop viewing our society through a racial awareness filter.

John Robinson

June 30, 2009 - 8:42 am EDT

OK. But help me understand using specific cases. Would you have brought race into either of the aforementioned stories? Why or why not?

bubba

July 1, 2009 - 7:04 pm EDT

If you think it was appropriate to mention in the first article, it was appropriate to mention in the second.

Why would you not want to be consistent?

John Robinson

July 1, 2009 - 7:56 pm EDT

I assume, too, that had we not mentioned it in the city boards story, we shouldn't have mentioned it in the crime story. It's an interesting thing, too, because some commenters here think it is of vital importance in the crime story and of little importance in the boards story. I am not sure the consistency thinking would satisfy them.

In any case, thanks for responding, bubba. I was afraid you had left me.

bubba

July 2, 2009 - 10:28 am EDT

"I assume, too, that had we not mentioned it in the city boards story, we shouldn't have mentioned it in the crime story."

That would be a poor assumption.

Do you not see that mentioning would be appropriate to the second, but not the first?

John Robinson

July 2, 2009 - 10:34 am EDT

How would that be consistent? I mean, weren't you arguing for consistency in the previous comment?

I'm open to including the race of the victim in the crime story if you or someone can tell me how that's relevant...and how it differs, if it does, from their occupation, their gender or any other demographic identifier.

jwg_

June 30, 2009 - 6:56 pm EDT

Given that this is Greensboro, "Diversity" is synonymous with "Race".

Get A Clue

June 29, 2009 - 6:30 pm EDT

You don't need to worry about whether or not N&R mentions race in any story.
Charles Davenport, Jr. will almost always find a way to work it into any column of his.
With glee.

brian444

June 30, 2009 - 2:12 am EDT

True what you say, if the reader read the whole story: what's above the fold on page 1 hardly begins to get at it, and only at the very end. IMO, this is a very good story that focuses on an important local issue, but that is compromised by sloppy boilerplate about "diversity" that detracts from the real focus.

John Robinson

June 30, 2009 - 8:43 am EDT

I understand that and agree. Thanks, brian.

gboro84

June 30, 2009 - 6:50 pm EDT

I have to say, I think the news and record enjoys the attention it gets when diversity is in the headline and I think that contributes more to the inclusion of those racial statistics than the (ir)relevance of them to the story. I admit that when those stories come up, I've left some pretty radical comments. Many times I'm just doing the same as the paper: trying to stir mess up, give people something to think (or moan) about. That is how I view this paper and have so for the last 4 years, not as a reliable, unbiased source of news, but as a paper, much like yes or the rhino that is put out for those who hold a certain perspective and the rest of us see that and there isnt much of a reason to subscribe.

John Robinson

July 1, 2009 - 9:14 am EDT

Thanks, gboro84. You know, some commenters here want us to be more like the Rhino so to them you've paid us a great compliment!

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