The Bigger Story

When I first heard about the story surrounding Chief Brown and the reporter from the Morning News, I fully expected her mainstream media colleagues internally and externally to defend her.  Reading articles and posts from other sites, I was right. 


I don't blame Chief Brown one bit for not giving her an "exclusive." Beyond the reporter's out-of-line and unprofessional behavior is a bigger story. 


It all comes down to the press feeling like they are bigger than every story out there. They live and die for the "exclusive." Notice that her tirade came about when she was not granted an exclusive. Is it about getting to the bottom of the real story and the issues, or is it about having your name attached to a byline that blares "EXCLUSIVE?" The reporter's actions clearly state the latter.


Shawn Williams does a great job of laying out some of the issues in his Dallas South News piece titled Dallas reporters frustrated by lack of access to Black officials. As Shawn says in his article:

Hit and run articles that play loose with the facts are being couched under the heading of “investigations." 

When Dallas' mainstream media drops the biased agenda, viewpoints, and vendettas they pursue, access will increase.  Their inability to dominate public opinion due to the continually increasing popularity of blogs and other independent websites is bearing itself out.  Minority papers arose from the fact that these groups couldn't get a fair shake in the mainstream press.  


The Dallas mainstream print press will burn you and ruin your life in a heartbeat, without contrition. Such actions have created a well-earned wall of suspiciousness in many communities.  When you see the words "repeated calls to..." in a story, it's basically harassment because they feel like they are owed an interview.  They aren't, it's up to the person involved whether they feel like talking to you or not.  A lot of press don't see it that way.


The mainstream press is in a fight for their lives; their usefulness is often questioned and for good reason.

It's the paper's own fault. Historically, the Morning News and other mainstream outlets have pursued biased agendas and vendettas against minority leaders.  You can add D Magazine and the Dallas Observer to that list. They cover stories in a way that than can be best called "selective memory."  The mainstream's media quest for the exclusive often leaves them burning both public officials and private citizens.  Some of this may stem from the fact that their writing and editorial staffs lack diversity in a city that has many nationalities and cultures.  


Anything that is an affront to their institution is mocked.  Example of such is the way that the press mocked blogs and bloggers when they first became popular.  To be followed by 20+ blogs of their own of course.


This is a reminder that no matter what is written, the PEOPLE are what matter most. No institution, including Dallas' mainstream media, is bigger than the desire and will of the people. 

The Map

Here is the 2013 City Council district map as approved by the Dallas City Council.

To view the boundaries down to the street-level, an enlarged map image (PDF format) can be found here.  A link to the statistics behind the map is here.

The districting plan developed in accordance with the Charter will be submitted to the Department of Justice for Preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The approved districting plan will be in place for the next general election for the City Council conducted at least 90 days after the plan becomes effective.