NPR Considers 'Boy Who Cried Wolf' Activist Kansas City Defender Blog

Actually, the write-up was complimentary for the most part. 

However . . .

Of course we want to talk about the section wherein national publication take the n00b startup to task. 

Our perspective . . . 

About a year ago we were frustrated by this blog but now that we think about a bit . . . It's a worthwhile pursuit and helps to provide a bit of "representation" for so many journalists who have mistaken charity with a viable profit model. 

Sure . . . NPR can probably count on deep corporate pockets to sustain their operation. But for most local newsies, the donation model merely offers yet another humiliating way to 'sing for supper' and turn into a stenographer rather than a reporter. 

And so . . .

We respect anybody willing to enter the news game when, clearly, a career in fast food is likely more lucrative in the long run. 

Brief aside . . . We thought NPR was "progressive" but somebody must have missed the memo that a journalist should never use the term "boy" disparagingly when writing about the African-American community . . . Seems like that's common knowledge that was probably covered in one of the better episodes of The Jefferson's at some point.

Finally . . . 

We really like the passage wherein a season community journalist, Marine veteran and local leader offers a gentle bit of advice . . .

"The boy who cried wolf and the risks of getting it wrong"

"The story about the alleged serial killer wasn't the only time The Kansas City Defender had to walk back a post. Earlier this year they shared the story of a Black man who claimed he'd been charged twice for his meal at an expensive restaurant, and wrongly arrested by police. It's one of those stories of racism that goes viral sometimes.

"The only problem — it didn't happen. The patron wasn't overcharged, video showed he was obviously intoxicated, and he had been arrested, but for driving while drunk.

"They ran out there with that story without getting all the information, and had people in an uproar," says Eric L. Wesson, the managing editor and publisher of The Kansas City Call, the region's historic Black newspaper, founded in 1919."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

A new iteration of the Black Press is changing the media landscape in Kansas City

Like so often happens to him these days, Ryan Sorrell's phone was lighting up. People were sharing a local news story about an unnamed teenager getting shot. One report called it "a case of mistaken identity." At first Sorrell remembers thinking, "oh, that's crazy," but the details were thin, and he had other stories to cover.