La Crítica

By Ryan Prescher

This was certainly a slow weekend for news. I think it’s safe to assume that crime is down due to the cold. Only a couple of news stories were important enough for several news sources to publish. One that caught my attention this morning was the closing of the Eden Prairie Von Maur store. The Pioneer Press article “Eden Prairie Von Maur store receives threat, closes Saturday night� by Nick Ferraro stated that the store closed after a threat was called in around 6 p.m. Saturday. Considering what happened earlier in the week where a gunman shot and killed eight people and then himself at a Von Maur store in Omaha, authorities did not want to mess around. After the call was received, store managers and Eden Prairie Police evacuated and closed the store for the rest of the evening. Police will continue to investigate the case, the article stated.

Almost all of the news sources in the metro had an article about this incident, but the Pioneer Press was the only publication that had a reporter who contributed to the story. Everyone else used the AP story. This article had specific quotes and more information than most other articles. For example, the article starts with specific details of what happened, and there is a quote from the Eden Prairie Sgt. Bill Wyffels, then there is specific information about where the story is located and why this incident was treated the way it was. Lastly, the article explains that police are still investigating, and the threat did not appear to be anything really serious.

A couple other news outlets that had this story were WCCO.com, KSTP.com and the Star Tribune. They all used the same AP story, and while much of the information was the same, the article was incredibly short. There was only one source, which was the police, and there were very few quotes. Overall, it is slightly disappointing to see that none of the other news stations did more to enhance this story, especially considering what took place earlier this week. The Pioneer Press did a reasonable job in making the story important and providing quotes. Most importantly, the Pioneer Press made the article important without over doing it.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 2:40 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A teenager was shot outside Roosevelt High School in south Minneapolis Thursday night, the WCCO.com article “Teen shot, possibly in face, outside Mpls. H.S.� stated. The shooting occurred at 40th Street and 28th Avenue at about 9 p.m., and police are still looking for suspects. Police believe that a group of young men were standing in the parking lot after a basketball game at the school, and someone from about 500 feet away came and shot them. A bullet hit one young man, possibly in the face. A spokesman for the Minneapolis Public Schools said the student that was shot is not attending public schools in the district. The young man was taken to HCMC, and his injuries are not life threatening. Police are still investigating.

The WCCO.com article was, surprisingly, well written. Usually, I find WCCO.com articles poorly written, primarily because there are so many spelling errors and because they lack sources. This time, it seems like a reporter got it right. I wasn’t able to find this story on KSTP.com, which is where I usually get most of my news. The article used the inverted pyramid lead, and provided the most important facts immediately in the article. It was nice to see sources such as witnesses, police and even a Minneapolis Public School spokesman.

Another source that had an article about the shooting was the Star Tribune. The article “Teen shot outside Roosevelt High School� by Tim Harlow contains many of the same facts, but the order and the style of the writing makes the information easier to understand and read. This story used similar sources such as the Minneapolis Police and the spokesman for the Minneapolis Public Schools; however, this article also used the assistant superintendent of Emergency Response and Crisis Management. While I consider this article far superior to the WCCO.com article, there are a few places where attributions are missing. The first paragraph starts out with the Minneapolis Park Police (not sure if he meant just Minneapolis Police), but the second part, where most of the information about the shooting is given, has no source. This mistake is very rare within the Star Tribune and is usually left to the broadcast news stations such as WCCO.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 6:37 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

An employee is still missing after a fire took place at the Marathon Petroleum Co. refinery in St. Paul Park on Saturday, the KSTP.com article “Employee still missing after fire breaks out at St. Paul Park oil refinery� by the Associated Press stated. The fire started around 8:30 a.m. in a fuel oil tank and was declared out around 9:30 a.m. The refinery’s human resources manager, Bob Behr, stated there were no immediate reports of injuries, but that one employee was still unaccounted for at midday. The employee was working in the area of where the fire broke out, the article stated. In addition, it is unclear of how the fire was started, and an investigation is still ongoing.

The KSTP.com article was very clear about what is known at this time about the fire at the oil refinery. In addition, to the statements from the refinery about the fire, there is a lot of information about what the plant does. For example, the article explained that over 75,000 barrels of oil are produced at this plant per day. Also, there are many sources that are used such as the human resources director and Washington County authorities. Lastly, the article makes mentioning of the pipeline explosion earlier in the week near Clearbook in northern Minnesota that killed two people.

Another source that contained information about this story was WCCO.com. The article “Employee missing after Twin Cities refinery fire� also by the AP, is the exact copy of the story that appeared on KSTP.com. There is no difference in the wording or structure of the sentences. All of the information is the same, and the sources are the same. Even the last statements about the Clearbook pipeline explosion are the same.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press also included an article about the fire. The article “Marathon refinery employee still missing after fire� by Nick Ferraro was relatively similar in the information that was provided, but the sentences and word structures are very different. This article was much easier to read because the sentences are shorter, and the most important information is at the top. In addition, this news article included statements from the Marathon Petroleum Company spokesman. In comparison to the last two articles, this one does not make any mentioning of the pipeline explosion.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 2:17 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

Minneapolis Police were called to a south Minneapolis apartment building Saturday where an argument led to the shooting death of two men, the Star Tribune article “Argument led to two shooting deaths� by Jim Adams stated. The double homicide took place at the 3100 block of Pleasant Avenue S. around 7:30 a.m. Police found a man’s body in the hall of the apartment, and a second man ran out of the building and died in a nearby ally from his gunshot wounds, the article stated. Police believe the shooting does not appear to be random, and that neighbors are not in danger of a gunman in the area. There is still some uncertainty if anyone else was involved and whether or not there were weapons recovered. No one is in custody at this time, and police are still investigating.

The Star Tribune article did a reasonable job reporting on the many aspects of this case. There is a specific location, which other sources did not mention. In addition, there is more bulk to the story. While there is a lot of information that is obviously not known at this time, the reporter tried to make it reader friendly and interesting. The only major drawback in the story is the lack of sources. The only main attribution in the article is police. It would be nice to have that people aspect. I am sure there were many worried and upset neighbors nearby.

Another source that included an article about the south side double homicide was WCCO.com. The article “Two killed in Minneapolis double-homicide� by the Associated Press reports much of the same information and uses police as its main source. One major difference is that there is no interesting quality to the article. There are four sentences, and that is it. It almost seems like bits and pieces were taken from another article then compiled together. This article is choppy and not very reader friendly.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 6:12 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A northbound train hit a man at 2:45 p.m. at the 46th Street Station Wednesday in South Minneapolis, the Star Tribune article “Light-rail train hits, kills man in south Minneapolis� by Courtney Blanchard stated. All the safety warnings were working at the time of the accident, and police are still unclear about why the man was on the tracks, the article stated. The victim, who died at the scene, did not have any identification. This is the second death at the 46th Street Station and the fifth death along the Hiawatha light rail line since it opened in 2004. Buses transported people along the line until the trains started running around 4 p.m., the article stated.

The Star Tribune article is well written and very well organized. All of the most important information is up towards the top of the story with the less important information at the bottom. The authorities are sourced along with the Metro Transit Assistant General Manager Julie Johanson. In addition, the article has statements by Chris Fitzharris who was trying to get to the airport Wednesday evening. The following statement was the ending of the story, “I’m pretty sure this will be the start of all my delays,’ Fitzharris said.� While the shutdown of the light rail line was an inconvenience, a man died. By adding this component into the story, it makes the death of the man less important.

Another source that reported this accident was KSTP.com. The article “Man killed by LRT in south Mpls.� by Nicole Muelhausen, was very concise and reported on what was most important to the story. The article explained where the accident happened and where trains were shut down. According to this article, train service was only shut down from Franklin Avenue to Fort Snelling. In the Star Tribune article, it did not specifically state. The article also states the increase in number of passengers due to Thanksgiving, but the article ends with a more serious note stating that this is the fifth incident since the light rail opened.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 2:16 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

The Woodbury Kowalski store is closed this week after a fire in the generator room on Sunday, the KSTP.com article “Fire closes Woodbury Kowalski’s on eve of Holiday rush� by Nicole Muehlhausen stated. Everything in the store, including canned goods, were thrown out, the article stated. It is believed that damage totals could reach $1 million. The owner, Jim Kowalski, commented that the store had been fully stocked for Thanksgiving. According to the article, the backup generator turned on after an electrical outage on Sunday and ignited something nearby. Many of the “non-perishable� items are being transported to other locations in northern Minnesota to be sold as damaged goods. Kowalski stated the store should be open by Sunday afternoon.

The KSTP.com article did a reasonable job in reporting this news. It was unclear if this news story was covered earlier in the week, but this article was more like a news feature. While the article started with a hard news lead, the majority of the article was based off what Jim Kowalski stated. The focus was not necessarily on the fire, but on the impact or loss of the fire. In addition, the article included other information such as what may have caused the fire and where some of the canned goods are being transported. The article also touched on the fact that this week is one of the busiest for grocery stores.

Another source that included a story about this fire was the Star Tribune. The article “Woodbury grocery fire won’t stop the turkey� by Kevin Giles, leads with a much different angle. The Star Tribune article states that people who ordered turkeys through Kowalski’s will still get them, but the store is closed. The article used Mike Oase, the company’s vice president of operations, as the main source. The article does not mention anything about all the food that was thrown out. In fact, the article states that besides the workrooms, there was no further damage. The article also states where customers can find another Kowalski’s store. This article seems to be lacking a lot of additional information that is important to the overall story.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:06 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

While this is not news within the metro, this is one of the more important stories within the state this weekend.

Two people died after an explosion and fire at a mobile home park in North Mankato, the KSTP.com article “Explosion kills two in North Mankato� by the Associated Press, stated. Police say they received several 911 calls early Friday morning. When firefighters arrived at the Camelot Mobile Home Park, the rear of the mobile home was “fully engulfed.� Two bodies were found, but the names have not been released, the article stated.

The KSTP.com article presented the most important information regarding the fire and deaths. It is surprising the article did not include more sources. The only source included is the authorities. In addition, the article does not appear to have been updated since Saturday morning. It is likely that there are new updates, but the article does not report them.

Another source that included this story was the Star Tribune. The article “Two bodies found after explosion in mobile home� by Sarah Lemagie, is entirely different from the KSTP.com article. First, the article starts with an anecdotal description of a nearby neighbor who saw the mobile home start on fire. Secondly, there are several sources such as neighbors, police and the Ramsey County medical examiner. The story is set up in much more informal way. For example, the KSTP.com article is written in an inverted pyramid form, while the Star Tribune article is much more story like. In addition, the article also updates readers about the names of the victims.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:16 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A 4-year-old boy was found shirtless and without shoes around 2 a.m. Thursday morning more than a mile from his St. Paul home, the KSTP.com article “4-year-old boy found wandering St. Paul street at 2 a.m.� by the Associated Press, stated. Police confirmed that the boy did not suffer any “ill effects� from being alone. According to the article, the mother left the boy and his 20-month-old sibling alone at home. The 25-year-old mother was arrested and taken to jail for suspicion of child endangerment but was later released for further investigation, the article stated. The article also states that the children were turned over to child-protection services. The article states that the mother claimed to have the children alone in order to pick up a friend. Lastly, The National Weather Service was cited in stating that the temperature was 34 degrees at the time of the incident.

The KSTP.com article does a good job of presenting the basic facts. There are a couple of AP style errors such as “didn’t� and “2 this morning.� In addition, the article does not specifically state where the incident in St. Paul took place. The only sources are the police, specifically Tim Walsh, and The National Weather Service.

Another news source that contained information about this incident was the Star Tribune. The article “Shirtless St. Paul 4-year-old wanders 1 1/3 miles� by Anthony Lonetree, is much better written. There are no AP style errors, the format is much easier to read, and the article presents an exact location of the incident. The boy wandered 1-1/3 miles before an officer found him at the corner of Rice Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the article stated. In addition, the article also states the residency of where the 4-year-old, mother and sibling were living, which is in the 500 block of Front Avenue.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 11:14 AM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

On a morning after elections, all news sources in the metro seem to be unorganized. Only KSTP.com reported on the public safety alert issued in Maple Grove. Apparently, police are searching for fugitive who is believed to have molested three girls. Several other news sources had articles about hunting accidents, but none of them were related. After searching and searching, I finally found a topic that another source also reported on.

Target Corporation, a Minneapolis-based retail giant, pulled “Manhunt 2� from the shelves in all of its stores, the WCCO.com article “Target Pulls Violent Video Game From Shelves� by Jason DeRusha said. The game has already been banned in the United Kingdom. In addition, the article quoted the CEO of Common Sense Media, which is a group that aids retailers in making sure that the videogames are appropriately rated. “It is some of the most horrific, senselessly violent stuff you’ve ever seen,� James Steyer, CEO of Common Sense Media, said.

According to the article, the game is about a man who escapes an insane asylum, and the government hunts for the “game’s hero�. In order to flee the authorities, the man kills anyone and everything that gets in his way. The game, which is produced by Rockstar Games, the creator of “Grand Theft Auto�, was originally given an adult only rating. Target and Wal-Mart do not sell games with this rating, the article said. The group deleted and hid certain inappropriate aspects of the game, and the rating was reduced to a mature audience only. The problem now is that codes can easily be used to hack the program, showing violent images, the article stated.

WCCO.com used several sources in this article in order to add credibility and to ensure that the article was non-biased. For example, the CEO of Common Sense Media was quoted to support the danger of the game. Target issued a statement to WCCO-TV explaining the reasons why they decided to stop selling the game. Lastly, Matt Helgeson, senior editor of the Minneapolis-based Game Informer Magazine, stated that the game was extremely violent but contained no different actions that could not be found in some movies rated R. Overall, the article is well written, and the writer explains Target is the only major U.S. retailer to pull the game and that it still can be purchased else where.

Another news source that had information about “Manhunt 2� was KSTP.com. In fact, this article came out a day earlier than WCCO.com’s article. “Target pulls violent video game from its stores� by Nicole Muehlhausen, was very short, but ultimately contained the same facts about the decision. There were no quotes or listed sources. The article simply states why the game was being pulled, and that it is banned in the United Kingdom.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 11:47 AM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A man was arrested Monday in connection to the murder of Mark Loesch, a 41-year-old Minneapolis resident that was murdered while riding his bike on Sept. 14, the KSTP.com article “Arrest made in south Mpls. bike murder� by Justin Piehowski said. Donald Eugene Jackson, 23, is being held at the Hennepin County jail and will likely be charged soon, the article stated.

Loesch was killed on the 3700 block of Elliot Avenue South in Minneapolis. Authorities confirmed that he died from “severe trauma�. It is still unclear to authorities why Loesch left his cell phone and wallet at home when he went out biking late, the article stated. Police are still investigating.

KSTP.com presented the most up to date information regarding this south side homicide. It is strange that the article names the suspect even though he has not formally been charged. The article also states that there was no photo given. In addition to the information about the arrest, the article provides detailed information about the homicide that took place in September, and states that police are still investigating why Loesch, the victim, was out so late without his cell phone and wallet. Lastly, the only source that is quoted in the article is the Minneapolis Police.

Another news outlet that included this news story was the Star Tribune. The article “Man arrested in bicyclist’s killing� by David Chanen is very different from the KSTP.com article. First, the article does not mention the name of the arrested subject. Secondly, the article is better written. The first article is very choppy, and is not in a very logical order. The Star Tribune article follows the inverted pyramid format. First, the article starts out with the information about the arrest. Then it explains background information about Mark Loesch. The end of the article contains information from the family and concerns about why he left so late.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:01 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A man was arrested Monday in connection to the murder of Mark Loesch, a 41-year-old Minneapolis resident that was murdered while riding his bike on Sept. 14, the KSTP.com article “Arrest made in south Mpls. bike murder� by Justin Piehowski said. Donald Eugene Jackson, 23, is being held at the Hennepin County jail and will likely be charged soon, the article stated.

Loesch was killed on the 3700 block of Elliot Avenue South in Minneapolis. Authorities confirmed that he died from “severe trauma�. It is still unclear to authorities why Loesch left his cell phone and wallet at home when he went out biking late, the article stated. Police are still investigating.

KSTP.com presented the most up to date information regarding this south side homicide. It is strange that the article names the suspect even though he has not formally been charged. The article also states that there was no photo given. In addition to the information about the arrest, the article provides detailed information about the homicide that took place in September, and states that police are still investigating why Loesch, the victim, was out so late without his cell phone and wallet. Lastly, the only source that is quoted in the article is the Minneapolis Police.

Another news outlet that included this news story was the Star Tribune. The article “Man arrested in bicyclist’s killing� by David Chanen is very different from the KSTP.com article. First, the article does not mention the name of the arrested subject. Secondly, the article is better written. The first article is very choppy, and is not in a very logical order. The Star Tribune article follows the inverted pyramid format. First, the article starts out with the information about the arrest. Then it explains background information about Mark Loesch. The end of the article contains information from the family and concerns about why he left so late.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:01 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A man was arrested Monday in connection to the murder of Mark Loesch, a 41-year-old Minneapolis resident that was murdered while riding his bike on Sept. 14, the KSTP.com article “Arrest made in south Mpls. bike murder� by Justin Piehowski said. Donald Eugene Jackson, 23, is being held at the Hennepin County jail and will likely be charged soon, the article stated.

Loesch was killed on the 3700 block of Elliot Avenue South in Minneapolis. Authorities confirmed that he died from “severe trauma�. It is still unclear to authorities why Loesch left his cell phone and wallet at home when he went out biking late, the article stated. Police are still investigating.

KSTP.com presented the most up to date information regarding this south side homicide. It is strange that the article names the suspect even though he has not formally been charged. The article also states that there was no photo given. In addition to the information about the arrest, the article provides detailed information about the homicide that took place in September, and states that police are still investigating why Loesch, the victim, was out so late without his cell phone and wallet. Lastly, the only source that is quoted in the article is the Minneapolis Police.

Another news outlet that included this news story was the Star Tribune. The article “Man arrested in bicyclist’s killing� by David Chanen is very different from the KSTP.com article. First, the article does not mention the name of the arrested subject. Secondly, the article is better written. The first article is very choppy, and is not in a very logical order. The Star Tribune article follows the inverted pyramid format. First, the article starts out with the information about the arrest. Then it explains background information about Mark Loesch. The end of the article contains information from the family and concerns about why he left so late.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:01 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

When Minneapolis Police arrived at the 900 block of 21st Av. N. around 2:40 a.m. Tuesday night, they found two men shot to death, the Star Tribune article “Overnight double murder not random, police say� by Tim Harlow said. The victims’ names have not been released, and no one has been arrested. A “distinct description� of the suspects does exist, Lt. Greg Reinhart said. Police believe this shooting was not random. This is the 39th and 40th homicide in Minneapolis for 2007, the article stated.

The Star Tribune article is very brief. There are three sources included in the story: Minneapolis Police, specifically, Lt. Greg Reinhart and KSTP-TV. The article presents the most up to date information about the shooting. In addition, the article gives side information about the city’s homicide count. It is strange that the police have a description of the suspects but will not release it. If someone were able to help with the case because of the descriptions given, why would the police not want to share this information?

An additional source that contained information directly about this shooting was KSTP.com. The article “Two dead after Minneapolis shooting� by Katie Hamner presents much of the same information. The only sources used in this story are the Minneapolis Police and Lt. Greg Reinhardt. In contrast to the Star Tribune article, this story contains information about the “Shot Spotter� technology that is in the area of where the shooting occurred. The article explains that this technology senses and notifies police immediately after a gun is fired. While this technology is claimed to be efficient and useful, it failed to work Tuesday night because the gun was fired in the house. Also, the KSTP.com article says the two shot were in their 20s. Lastly, the article encourages readers and viewers to call the Minneapolis Police Department tip line if they have any additional information. Similarly, to the Star Tribune article, police did not give any specific details of what the suspect appeared to look like.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 5:40 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A mother is in jail this evening, after Minneapolis Police said she offered to let men have sex with her five-year-old daughter., the KSTP.com article “Police: Mpls. mother offered men sex with her five-year-old� said. City prosecutors charged 24-year-old Arika Pamonicutt with promoting prostitution and endangerment of a child, the article said. Pamonicutt offered her child up for sex and claimed she already knew how to give oral sex. Police responded to a criminal complaint that was filed on Tuesday. The report stated that people (neighbors likely, but the article does not state) noticed Pamonicutt “yelling,� “shoving,� and “calling� her child obscene names. Police believe Pamonicutt used her child in order to solicit herself for prostitution.

The KSTP.com article was one of the few articles that had any mentioning of this breaking news story. Despite that it is “breaking news,� the KSTP.com article presented a lot of information. Sources included the authorities, specifically, Sgt. Jesse Garcia. The article presented facts from both the authorities and the city attorney’s office.

Another source that had any mentioning of this breaking news was FOX9News.com. While I do not usually trust Fox as a reputable source, this was the only other source at 9:30 p.m. that had an article about this story. The article "Mpls. mother charged with solicitation of her five-year-old daughter" contains less information, but there is additional information that is not in the KSTP.com article. For example, the Fox story includes information that Pamonicutt walked down a street in South Minneapolis dragging her child and yelling that her child was used to it.

It is somewhat surprising that no other sources in the metro have any mentioning of this article yet. It is likely that everyone will have comments on this tomorrow morning. Again, it is surprising that FOX9News.com beat out WCCO.com and KARE11.com. Do you think this is strange? I thought so.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 9:43 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A nanny ad might have cost a woman from Cottage Grove her life, the KSTP.com article “Online ad for nanny may have cost woman her life� by the Associated Press said. Katherine Ann Olson, 24, was found dead in the trunk of her car in a Burnsville park on Friday night. According to the article, she was last seen with her friends Thursday morning. Olson was planning to meet someone in Savage about a nanny job that was posted on Craigslist.org, the article said. Police arrested a 19-year-old man from Savage who placed the ad. The arrest took place at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday night. They believe is in connection with the murder, and he is being held in the Scott County jail awaiting charges.

The article also stated that Olson was a 2002 graduate from Park-Cottage Grove High School and a graduate from St. Olaf College in 2006. A resident near Paser Park in Savage informed a Savage Public Works employee about a purse found in a garbage can. Police acquired the purse, which contained items belonging to Olson. Police immediately thought it was a theft case and called her residency. Around 5 p.m. Friday, Olson’s roommate informed police that Olson had not been seen since 8 a.m. on Thursday. When police returned to the park, they searched one of the garbage cans and found a “significantly bloody towel� inside a garbage bag, the article said. Police actually found the body in the trunk of her car in Burnsville.

This article is very extensive considering this story just broke on Saturday. There are already statements from the family. Usually, homicides only contain statements from police in the first 48-hours. Sources include the authorities (Burnsville Police), Police Capt. David Muelken and Olson’s family (statements from Nancy Olson and reporter’s observations). The article contains a lot of information not only about the homicide, but there is a considerable amount of information about Olson. It is slightly unusual for these “profile� type stories to be included within the main homicide article. It is even more unusual that this type of story is available less than 48-hours after the news broke. While the article written well and contains a lot of information, the order of the content in the article does not make sense. For example, the article explains the logistical aspects of the homicide right away. The middle part includes information (background, personality, family quotes, etc.) about Olson. What is strange is the ending. It contains information about how police came about finding the body. It would seem logical to include this in the second/middle part of the story.

Another news outlet in the metro area that contained information about this homicide was the Star Tribune. The article “Online nanny ad ends in slaying� by Chris Havens and James Walsh is similar to the KSTP.com article because it contains information about the homicide and information about Olson. Both articles appear to be both a news article and profile article all in one. This article contains the same sources, but there is more side information about the area of Burnsville and Savage. According to the article, this is the first homicide in Savage since 2000. What is slightly unclear in this article is where the murder actually took place. The article lists Burnsville throughout much of the story, and this is where the body was found. However, the article fails to explain in full detail that the evidence of the murder was found in a park in Savage. It took me a couple a times to read the article to understand this. To clear things, according to the article and police, the purse was found in Paser Park in Savage, and the police obtained more evidence at this park (bloody towel). The actual body was found in the trunk of her car in the parking lot of Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve in Burnsville.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 4:14 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

With all the unhappy news that seems to cloud our view of positive ideas and advances in this world, I decided to report on something that I find a lot of interest in, traveling.

In a press conference last Thursday, and with specific dates and times mentioned on Monday, Northwest Airlines will increase its international presence by offering a daily nonstop flight to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport, the WCCO.com article “NWA to launch MSP to Paris nonstop flight� read. Northwest Airlines, which emerged from bankruptcy last spring and is headquartered in Eagan, will begin its Paris service on April 8, 2008, the article read. The airline will work in cooperation with its SkyTeam alliance partner, KLM Dutch Airlines, which is headquartered in Amsterdam. The flights will be operated on the new Airbus A330-300, which Northwest is currently the largest user of, the article stated. In addition, the article reported that Northwest Airlines petitioned for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s approval to work with Air France, which is also another SkyTeam member. If the department allows for schedules and pricing agreements, then travelers will have a gateway to 39 additional international cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Lastly, the article mentioned that Northwest Airlines is also seeking the approval for a Twin Cities-London Heathrow route. Currently, Northwest is operating into London’s Gatwick airport, but London’s Heathrow airport is closer to the city center, the article mentioned.

The WCCO.com article did an excellent job in covering this tidbit of news. It is great to see that small news stories with large impacts such as this are still covered in news outlets today. The article was provided by the Associated Press and lacked additional interviews; however, it was not biased, and the article contained direct quotes from the President and CEO Doug Steenland and the Executive Vice President Neal Cohen. This article could have contained quotes and comments from frequent flyers of Northwest Airlines and the impact this will have on their future international travels.

Almost all news outlets had some mentioning of the new international route, including the Pioneer Press. The article “NWA adds nonstop flight to Paris� by Jennifer Bjorhus contains much of the same crucial information about the new flight addition; however, this article was not written by the AP, and it contains several additional sources. Steenland, Minneapolis Mayo R.T. Rybak, Patrick Hogan, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Transportation Department spokesperson Bill Mosley, and airline analyst with Calyon Securities in New York, Ray Neidl are the sources attributed in Bjorhus’s article. In addition, the article contains information that Northwest will not keep the Twin Cities – Paris route if it is not granted immunity with Air France.

While many may think this is not a huge deal or a newsworthy story to report on, I disagree. The Pioneer Press article mentioned that adding an additional international destination to the Minneapolis Airport provides an extra $200 million dollars to the local economy. In addition, this new route will provide travelers in the Upper Midwest with another alternative to see and visit destinations abroad.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 8:43 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

Minneapolis police are investigating a stabbing that occurred in an alley in the 3500 block of Columbus Avenue South, the KSTP.com article “Mpls. Police investigate stabbing death� by Nicole Muehlhausen, read. Officers were called to the scene around 6 a.m., and EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene. According to the article, a neighbor nearby the crime scene said a woman pounded on her door and said her friend had been stabbed. Police stated there are no suspects in custody at this time, and they are asking for anyone with information to contact the Minneapolis Police Department.

It seems like I spoke too soon. Yesterday, I mentioned there was very little news going on in the metro, and sure enough, there was a homicide last night. KSTP.com did an OK job of relating the news to its viewers and readers. The basic information that is available at this time was presented, and the article had an additional broadcasted piece. Surprisingly, the site had two sources. Not only were the authorities quoted, but also a neighbor of the scene was attributed.

Another source that included this story was the Star Tribune. The article “Man stabbed to death in Minneapolis� is again, almost the exact same article. The article does not state that it was provided by the AP. In fact, there is no listed writer. The article is the same as the KSTP.com article. Both articles include the same facts, and the authorities are the primary source. The only additional information that is included is that some of the facts are attributed to other sources, such as KARE11-TV. One such source, KMSP-TV, stated that a bicyclist found the victim. Again, the article states that authorities have no suspect, and they are asking for the communities help.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 3:52 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

On a very slow weekend of news, local stories worth covering seem not to exist. On the front page of KSTP.com, an article about cat boom was “news�. The article “Twin Cities animal shelters dealing with cat population� by the Associated Press, reports on the increasing population of stray cats in the metro area. More than 2,000 cats were apprehended and taken to the Humane Society facilities in Golden Valley, St. Paul, Coon Rapids and Woodbury this year, the article said. The society states that this is due to the warmer springs and warmer falls. Cats are surrendered earlier in the spring and later in the fall. The article also commented that there are many cats that are not spayed or neutered, which has led to the “huge influx�. The Human Society is urging cat owners to get their pets spayed or neutered in order to help combat this growing concern.

First, it is quite funny, yet very hard to believe that this is metro news. It is certainly a good thing that there is not a shooting, a murder, or anything else. Considering the lack of interest and news worthiness in this story, KSTP.com does a reasonable job in trying to present the information in a formative manner. The article also includes a veterinary from the Humane Society in order to make the information seem more prevalent. But this is the only source. In addition, the article also includes the request by the Society that cat owners need to have their cats spayed or neutered. The article does lack in content. Cases or stories of stray cats could have been included, or cat owners’ comments and opinions could have added depth to the story.

The Star Tribune also found this story to be newsworthy considering the lack of more “exciting� news. The article “Humane Society blames weather for an ‘explosion of cats’ in Twin Cities� by Paul Walsh delivers the exact same information almost word for word. It is surprising because an actual reporter wrote the Star Tribune article while the AP. provided the KSTP article. One additional piece of information that the Star Tribune article contains is that on Wednesday, workers from the Humane Society seized 105 cats from a cat rescue operation in Isanti County. This adds more light and depth to the severity of the issue. Similar to the KSTP article, the Star Tribune does a reasonable job in covering this news story, but sources are nonexistent. While this is not news similar to a shooting, a murder, or crash, sources are still very important in every article. They add depth, credibility, and in this case, sources would make the issue much more important.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 5:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

By Ryan Prescher

An unidentified man was shot at the intersection of 14th Street and Portland Avenue S. in downtown Minneapolis around 4 a.m. Friday morning, the Star Tribune article “Unidentified man is Minneapolis’ 37th homicide� by Tim Harlow said. Police responded to the call and closed off several streets in the Elliot Park area for investigation purposes, Harlow wrote. The police have not released the identity of the man that was shot. In addition, the article mentions that this is the 37th homicide in Minneapolis this year. Forty-eight homicides were reported at this time last year, Harlow wrote.

The Star Tribune article contains much more information about the shooting than most other news sources. In relation to other sources, the article was already updated at least once this morning, and it contains one authoritative source. Minneapolis police Sgt. Tammy Diedrich is attributed to most of the facts that are available for the public. The article also includes of map of the location where the shooting happened. Another important fact that is included in this story is that this murder is the 37th homicide this year, which is 11 less than last year at this time.

In contrast, the WCCO.com article “Man shot, killed near downtown Minneapolis� contains five whole sentences with very little information and has not been updated since 7 a.m. The article still states that several streets are closed in the area for investigation. This article only contains the bare bones of what was given to the public.

With much more information and ahead of every other news outlet is KSTP.com. The article “Murder just south of downtown Minneapolis rattles residents� by Justin Piehowski already contains a video broadcast of the story. In addition, unlike any other source, this article already contains sources other than the police. Residents of nearby apartments are quoted, and more information is given about speculations that police have about this shooting.

It seems like many other news sources are not too worried about providing a more in-depth report on this shooting with WCCO.com as a prime example. Maybe news outlets think there is more news that is important; however, I find it hard to believe that residents of the metro are not concerned about a shooting that left one man dead. I would think that this incident would take priority over other news stories especially since someone was killed, gun violence is a growing problem in the cities, and because it affects residents who live in Minneapolis.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:55 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

A car chase that started in St. Paul and led to Minneapolis Tuesday night ended in a shootout, the KSTP article “Police dog and suspect shot after chase� by Nicole Muehlhausen read. The suspect, whose name has not been released, and a St. Paul police Dog, Rico, were shot. According to the article, the chase started after St. Paul police tried to arrest him for drug possession. The suspect crashed into an occupied SUV near Chicago Avenue and East Minnehaha Parkway. He then fled the scene and shot at the German Shepherd dog “as it bit and dragged him to the ground,� the article stated. The man was shot by police and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, and the dog was taken to the University of Minnesota’s veterinary hospital. “Police said the suspect is a dangerous man. He has an extensive criminal history,� the article stated.

The KSTP article covering this news story is not very different from the original posting Tuesday night. While certain information was likely altered or clarified, the majority of the content within in the article remains the same. There is still no name of the suspect, and it is unclear in this article as to what time the incident occurred. The article also does not quote anyone. There are some references such as the St. Paul police department. In addition, this article lacks information about the driver and if there were any passengers in the SUV. While Muelhausen was the writer of the story, much of the information was obtained from the AP.

In contrast to the broadcasting source, the Star Tribune article “Suspect ‘satisfactory’ after St. Paul police chase ends in Minneapolis shooting� by Tom Ford and Joy Powell contained much more information and sources. For example, the specific location of where the incident started was mentioned, and descriptions of the chase, crash and shooting are written out. The article also mentioned that the driver of the other vehicle was injured but not seriously. Sources included in the story are a St. Paul police spokesperson, a University of Minnesota veterinarian, and a local resident.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 11:10 AM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

According to the WCCO.com article “Mpls. Council votes to Restrict Fake Guns�, the Minneapolis City Council voted 13-0 Friday to ban the display of fake guns in public. The new guidelines state that guns and “airguns� are not allowed to be carried in public except under conditions (the article does not mention what conditions). It is still legal to possess fake guns in private, the article states. The motive behind this ban is because fake guns have been used in assaults, burglaries and car thefts, and it is difficult for police officers to decide if the weapon is real or not. St. Paul enacted a similar law earlier this year.

The WCCO.com article provides all the necessary information concerning this new law. It is short and simple. The article states the important facts (what passed, who passed it, and why) right away within the first three paragraphs. In addition, the article includes information about a similar law that was enacted in St. Paul earlier this year. Lastly, the article gives a list of other cities that have the same ordinance: Beaverton, Oregon, and Honolulu. The only downfall about this article is that it lacks sources. There is only one source that is mentioned.

Another source is the Star Tribune article “Minneapolis votes to restrict fake guns� by Steve Brandt. This article is more than twice the length, and contains more sources. The article gives the same information in the beginning; however, the concern from the police department is further expressed. In addition, specific examples of cases are presented that involved fake guns. This story is much longer and contains some information that could be left out, but it does provide a more in-depth story about why this ordinance was passed. It is surprising that neither one of these stories includes comments about the decision from “every day people� or citizens of Minneapolis.

Sources:

WCCO.com “Mpls. Council votes to Restrict Fake Guns�

- Minneapolis Police
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels
This is a human source, and it is authoritative and people source. It is an elected position but this source represents the citizens of Minneapolis.

Star Tribune “Minneapolis votes to restrict fake guns�

- Minneapolis Police (officals)
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels
This is a human source, and it is authoritative and people source. It is an elected position but this source represents the citizens of Minneapolis.
- Deputy Police Chief Scott Gerlicher
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- Assistant City Attorney Joel Fussy
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- St. Paul City Attorney John Choi
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 2:15 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

Seven students from Hazel Park Middle School Academy of St. Paul ingested a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, the Star Tribune article “7 St. Paul students taken to hospital after possibly ingesting crystal meth� by Jim Walsh, said. The incident happened around 12:15 p.m., when one girl went to the school nurse complaining of feeling sick, “anxious� and “scared�. The girl informed the nurse that she and six others had ingested a substance they had found. The nurse immediately contacted the school resource officer. All of the seven students were taken to a local hospital. According to the report, police are still investigating.

Unfortunately, this Star Tribune article was not very well written. There are several spelling errors. This could be because of many reasons, but from a reader’s point of view, it does not portray the Star Tribune in a good light. Secondly, there are contradictions in the article. In the second paragraph, the principal said, “All of the students were taken to area hospitals, and McDonough said late Tuesday that officials confirmed it was crystal methamphetamine and the students apparently took small amounts.� The second to last paragraph contradicts this confirmation because Walsh said, “Police spokesman Tom Walsh said he couldn’t confirm whether the substance was crystal meth.� It is unclear to the readers if the substance was crystal meth or not.

WCCO.com also featured this story. While the article made headline at the very top of the Star Tribune page, the WCCO article “Students take substance at school, hospitalized� was in small print in the local column. Secondly, this article is much more coherent. There are no errors and contradicting statements. In fact, the WCCO article never states that the substance was confirmed. It is entirely speculation. Both articles used the similar facts and sources.

Sources:

Star Tribune “7 St. Paul students taken to hospital after possibly ingesting crystal meth�

- Principal Coleman McDonough
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- St. Paul Police (Officals)
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- Police spokesman Tom Walsh
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- St. Paul school board member Anne Carroll
This is a human source, and it is authoritative and a people source because Carroll represents students, teachers and parents.

WCCO.com

- Principal Coleman McDonough
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- St. Paul Police spokesman Tom Walsh
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.
- Ramsey County Attorney
This is a human source, and it is authoritative.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 8:25 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

At 2 p.m. Thursday, a DHL driver was making a delivery when he was shot inside his van on 29th and Oliver Avenues N. of Minneapolis, according to the Star Tribune article “2 teens arrested in shooting of delivery driver on North Side� by Terry Collins. The driver made his way to a hardware store where employees called 911. The driver’s injuries were reported as serious but not life-threatening. “Two boys, ages 15 and 17, have been arrested in connection with Thursday’s shooting,� the article read. The 15-year-old was arrested at his home Thursday night, and the 17-year-old was arrested at school on Friday.

The Star Tribune article is very extensive and contains many details about the shooting on Thursday and about the juvenile crime increase. Sources such as Minneapolis Police Capt. Mike Martin, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak are included. The article, in the beginning, focuses on the two arrested. The second part of the story focuses on the increase in juvenile crime. For example, several statements from all sources focused on the increase in weapons and the need for early crime prevention with youth. The later part of the article focused on the details of the shooting that occurred on Thursday. Lastly, the story also mentions four individuals arrested in connection with four robberies involving cabdrivers in north Minneapolis.

KSTP.com also included a short article and video footage about the shooting and arrests. The article “Two arrested in DHL driver shooting� by Justin Piehowski is very short and lacks details and sources that the Star Tribune article includes. For example, the only sources that are noted are the police (but there are no direct quotes) and community activists (“Mad Dads�). While the article focuses on the arrests, it does not state where the arrests were made. The article primarily gives the basic facts with very little description. At the end of the written segment of both the article and video footage, the article focuses on the community concerns over the rise in youth crime.

It almost seems like the news outlets in the Twin Cities are getting tired of reporting crime in north Minneapolis. With several other gun related crimes in the last two weeks, it seems like this story has already taken the back burner. This is strange considering an ordinary, working man was randomly shot while doing his job. This afternoon, very few new outlets had any mentioning of the arrests let alone shooting on their front pages. Instead, stories involving the Vikings and Timberwolves and the return of exterior lights at the capitol took precedent.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 4:56 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

More gun violence was reported Tuesday afternoon on the north side of Minneapolis. The Star Tribune article, “Teen who allegedly displayed gun is in custody� by Tim Harlow said that a Minneapolis police officer is on administrative leave. The officer fired at a “gun-wielding� suspect on the 3200 block of Emerson Avenue N. just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The incident happened after somebody called 911 reporting that a teenager was in the area with a gun. When the officers arrived, the suspect took off on foot, and one police officer fired at the suspect. No one was injured. The article also states that two other teenagers were arrested. “One was given a misdemeanor citation for fleeing on foot; the other was cited on an obstruction charge and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center.�

The Star Tribune article provided the most up-to-date information concerning this incident. While this story lacks depth, considering the lack of time that was allowed for it to be published, the writer managed to incorporate two sources. Both of the sources made the story more interesting and factual. In contrast, the WCCO article “No one struck in officer involved shooting� lacks sources and is not interesting. The article is simple and to the point. It almost seems like the transcript for the 10 p.m. news. The sentences are very short, and there seems to be no flow. The article also does not mention any of the charges against the two other boys.

Additional information:

This incident comes only five days after a 12-year-old was shot in the head after leaving a family birthday party. The shooting occurred relatively in the same neighborhood. While the north side of Minneapolis has been notorious for high crime rates, police and officials have stated that crime rates are lower now than last year at this time. Despite the decline in crime rate, police and officials believe that crime-involving youth is climbing. The Star Tribune published the article “As gangs get squeezed, younger kids are joining� by David Chanen and Terry Collins Wednesday. The article is an in-depth report on the growing problem. It states that crime-involving youth such as gangs, drugs, etc. does not just exist in north Minneapolis. This growing problem is evident throughout much of the south side as well.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 5:12 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

There are many very important stories breaking in the Twin Cities region such as the settlement between the University of Minnesota and union workers, the tornado that passed through the suburb of Woodbury, Minn. on Thursday, and finally, the updates on the future construction of the new interstate 35W bridge. Despite all this news, there was one story that caught my attention right away Saturday morning when I logged in to the Start Tribune website, “Girl shot in head�. A 12-year-old girl was shot in the head Friday night in the 1800 block of Oliver Av. N. According to the article, the girl is in “grave� condition at Hennepin County Medical Center. She was leaving a party when she was shot. Police have two suspects they are pursuing, but the Star Tribune states that there is no further information.

There are many facts missing from the story since police don’t have a lot of information. Another news outlet that has information concerning this shooting is the Pioneer Press’s article “Girl, 12, shot in head in Minneapolis� by Dave Orrick. The article contains much of the same information published in the Star Tribune article; however, the article does contain one interesting statement that is not present in the other article. According to the Minneapolis police communications supervisor, “the girl might be the victim of a stray bullet from as far away as a half a block�. This is the only additional information present in the article that is different from the Star Tribune story. Police are still investigating, and when information becomes available, both sources promised to keep their readers informed.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 1:06 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

According to the article “Judge rules Star Tribune publisher must step down� by Matt McKinney of the Star Tribune, Ramsey County Judge David Higgs ruled today that Star Tribune publisher, Par Ridder must step down. Ridder left his position as publisher of the Pioneer Press and brought copies of important and private electronic documents regarding finance, advertising prices, and circulation numbers for the Pioneer Press. The judge ruled that Ridder must step down from his position for one year as of this morning. The judge cleared Ridder and Senior Vice President of Operations, Kevin Desmond, an executive he “hired away from the Pioneer Press�, of charges that they broke the noncompete agreement. The judge did rule that Jennifer Parratt, director of niche publications at the Star Tribune, violated a noncompete agreement with the Pioneer Press. She cannot work for the paper until April 19, 2008.

The Star Tribune did an excellent job in covering this very large and personal story, especially since it was internal. The article was very informative and used sources from both the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. The article did not seem biased at all. The writer provided the facts behind the long three-month trial. The judge’s verdict was covered along with Ridder’s side of the story. In the article, McKinney chose to include a great example of the Star Tribune’s goals and purpose through the company wide e-mail that Editor Nancy Barnes sent out Tuesday morning regarding the verdict. “‘It’s hard to imagine a more tumultuous year, even without today’s ruling,’ she said. ‘ One thing’s for sure: It’s more important than ever that we cover the news, even when it’s about ourselves, and put out a great paper.’�

Many other sources throughout the metro covered this story. The Pioneer Press’s article “Judge orders Ridder out� by Christopher Snowbeck and Jennifer Bjorhus was informative. While both articles used many of the same sources, the information was delivered in a very sarcastic and biased tone. It was almost like telling its readers “we won!�. Instead of delivering the news without personal involvement, the lead to the Pioneer Press article starts out with “A legal win today for the Pioneer Press….�.

Another source that had great information on this story was the WCCO.com article “Judge orders Par Ridder to step down for 1 year�. While the article was not as in-depth as the news stories, it presented the facts and used credible sources. The article made a point to hit all sides of the story. There was little bias, and it was concise.

This is a major story for the media community of Minnesota, and almost every news outlet will cover this story for the next few days. While it is too early to say, it is likely the Star Tribune will see several changes because of this verdict. The verdict good or bad will be a wake-up call and will affect all media outlets. The ethics of media will probably be discussed and many will start to analyze and question their own internal affairs. Overall, media companies will be more careful when hiring former employees of the competition.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 7:00 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

Four people were shot in Minneapolis on Thursday night according to several news sources. The Star Tribune story “Two people shot over night in Minneapolis� by Tim Harlow along with KSTP and WCCO (videos) focus on the two reported shootings on the south side; however, they neglect to mention the two reported shootings that occurred on the north side. According to the Star Tribune story, the first shooting on the south side was reported at 11 p.m. on Thursday where a man sitting in his house at 37th St. and Oakland Avenue S. was shot. The second shooting on the south side, reported at 1:30 a.m., occurred at 24th Street and Portland Av. S. According to the article, the man was shot in his car, and police believe the incident was drug related. The article also states information on the “apparent homicide� that was reported on Thursday. The man, believed to be 35 to 45 years old, was found dead in his yard on Thursday morning when paramedics arrived.

The article by the Star Tribune does a great job giving the most current information to the public on the shootings that occurred on Thursday; however, the article completely neglects to note the two reported shootings on the north side of Minneapolis. The article “Four shot in Minneapolis� by Nancy Yang of the Pioneer Press, is the only news source that I could find as of 9:45 a.m. Friday that made any statement on the north side shootings. The shootings were reported at 7:30 p.m. on 12th and Morgan avenues. While the article is incredibly short and lacks details about both the north and south side shootings, it at least mentions what occurred on the north side as well as the south side. Another source is KSTP, which only mentions the south side shootings. The worst source is WCCO. Nowhere on the front webpage was this timely topic found. The shootings were not even mentioned in the local section; however, there was a video, but you had to click on it in order to see the subject. The video was of the entire morning top stories, not just the shootings.

I was extremely disappointed and embarrassed to see how this topic was covered. Four shootings and one “apparent homicide� would seem important to cover, yet many news sources put together a quick and sloppy story leaving out vital information. Its even more upsetting that very few news outlets mentioned the north side shooting. I question why only the Pioneer Press made mentioning of the north side shooting. The controversial topic (north side v. south side coverage) could go on forever. It will be interesting to see if any other news outlets revise their stories. All the big news outlets will update their current stories with new information about the south side shootings, but I am curious to see if any will report on the north side shootings.

The Lead:

The lead in the Star Tribune article “Two people shot over night in Minneapolis� by Tim Harlow is a direct lead. The first sentence “Minneapolis police are investigating two overnight shootings� is very direct and to the point. The sentence gives the important information (topic) of the story right away at the beginning; there is no delay. It explains who (the Minneapolis police), where (Minneapolis), when (Thursday night), and what (the investigation of shootings). The lead is captivating because it states the important information first, and entices readers to continue reading.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 9:55 AM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

The “stoplight photo-cop� created controversy long before it was terminated and found unconstitutional, and now, many people ticketed do not want to pay the $150 fine. The primary focus of the article found in the Star Tribune, “Some nabbed by stoplight photo-cop reject city’s offer, want money back� by Steve Brandt, is that 150 people who already paid ticket fines for running red lights want their money back. The city of Minneapolis previously offered a deal that included “rebuffing� their record; however, the ticket fine was still included, even after the program was found illegal. According to the article, there will be a ruling in November on this particular case of 150. In addition, the article explains that there is much more behind this topic. Another lawyer is planning to file an action lawsuit asking refunds for thousands of ticketed drivers who were affected by the “stoplight photo-cop� program. Overall, more than 26,000 drivers received tickets with the “stoplight photo-cop�.

Brandt does not take the topic lightly; he made a very clear effort to hit both sides of the story. He does an excellent job of explaining why people want their money back. In addition, Brandt uses lawyers as sources, which adds to the credibility of the story. For example, lawyer Douglas Hazelton commented, “there’s something a little bit unholy about holding the drivers accountable for something that’s later been found unconstitutional.� Brandt’s other source was assistant city attorney, Mary Ellen Heng. While Brandt did bring both sides to the story, Heng’s argument makes no sense. She compares the 150-ticketed drivers to Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. This comparison seems to distract the readers and take away from the subject. Either way Brandt did a thorough job of using appropriate facts and seeking credible sources to make an informative piece on a very controversial issue.

Other sources on this topic:
PhotoCop.com
Pioneer Press

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 9:59 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

It is hard to imagine that only a month ago the I-35W Bridge, a main artery into and out of downtown Minneapolis from the north, collapsed. Following the incident, pictures, and video footage captivated audiences locally and abroad. Published articles focused on the loss of life and the drastic change in commute patterns. While most articles have only focused on the loss of life and immediate changes, an article released in the Star Tribune on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 targeted the long-term impact of the collapse. “Loss to Minn. Economy from I-35W bridge put at $60 million� by the Associated Press described the financial losses that the Twin Cities region and the state of Minnesota will see because of the collapse within the next two years. According to DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) and MnDOT (Minnesota Department of Transportation), “road-user costs due to the unavailability of the river crossing would total $400,000 per day.� The groups noted that the estimated economic impact or “loss to Minnesota’s economy� is $17 million in 2007 and $43 million in 2008. The article also states the daily net-economic (“gross state product�) impact at $113,000. It is important to note that auto travel time such as individual commutes or other non-business travel are not included in the study according to DEEP and MnDOT.

This article does a decent job in spreading light on the economic losses that Minnesota and the Twin Cities region will face in the next few years; however, it lacks content and other interesting facts that would concern commuters and citizens (time increases, traffic flow patterns, etc.). While the AP reported on the important facts published in the study, the article is extremely basic. There are no interviews except for attributing the sources of the report. While the AP supplied the story, the Star Tribune needed other sources (commuters, ground-shipping companies, businesses, etc.) affected by the collapse in order to make this story a worthwhile read. People interested in this story are better off viewing the full report available by DEED and MnDOT; not only does it incorporate all the facts and numbers, but it seems to be more clear and concise. The Star Tribune lost out big time on this story. The bridge collapse is a topic that many residents of the Cities are still talking about, and the future impacts of this incident are immense. I am curious as to why the Star Tribune did not want to create discussion and be on the forefront by creating an improved story, one with detail and interviews.

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 8:03 PM | Permalink

By Ryan Prescher

In the Star Tribune article “School bus hits, kills bicycle rider� by Maria Elena Baca, detailed information is given regarding the fatal crash between a bicycle rider and a school bus. On Thursday morning around 10 a.m., an unidentified man was riding his bike near Lake Calhoun at the intersection of West Calhoun Parkway and West Lake Street when he was struck by a school bus. The man died at the scene. According to the article, “the man is believed to be 20 to 40 years old, 5 feet 10, and about 200 pounds, with dark brown medium-length hair and brown eyes.� There was no helmet found at the scene that belonged to the victim, and authorities asked that anyone with information call 612-215-6300. According to Baca’s reporting, the crash is under investigation by authorities. The bus driver is on leave and no tickets have been issued.

Baca does a great job of reporting on the basic facts behind the accident, but what makes this article even more captivating is that she incorporates another bicycle crash story, and not overwhelming statistics about bus and bike related crashes from previous years. By incorporating these two separate aspects to the article, readers are better informed and are reminded that this [bike related accidents and bus accidents] occur frequently. Baca’s first source in the story is Andrea, of St. Louis Park. Only a week ago, “Andrea was struck by a vehicle…near the downtown Target store…� Andrea was also an eyewitness to the crash that occurred yesterday morning. Another very important aspect to Baca’s story is the statistics that she provides at the end of the article. In Minnesota, 625 crashes to place in 2006 involving school buses, and 8 bicyclists died in fatal crashes in Minnesota last year. These statistics are very important because they get people thinking. Are roads really compatible for both bikes and motorists, should wearing helmets be a law, why were buses involved in 625 accidents last year, are bicyclists and motorists following all the rules of the road, and have bus drivers received enough training? While this blog is not a place to state opinion, this article brings up many questions that we all need to address. With a large population, crowded roads, and different means of transportation, this article by Maria Elena Baca of the Star Tribune brings not only facts of an unfortunate accident but provides room for thought on an issue that concerns all commuters of the Twin Cities.

This great article provides information on several aspects of this crash. Below are several other sources (videos, articles, etc.) to learn more about this issue/accident.

KSTP.com
WCCO.com
Twincities.com (Pioneer Press)

Posted by Ryan Prescher at 4:09 PM | Permalink