First and foremost, I feel awful about the workplace shooting incident that happened in this city's Bryn Mawr neighborhood. The fact the media made a ridiculous mistake and initially reported this happened in "North Minneapolis" is a minor matter compared to what happened to the victims; whether dead, injured, or traumatized and their world torn apart. This is the worst murder incident in the history of our city.
But this blog is about North Minneapolis, and what's the story here, from where I'm standing? DOZENS of media leaped to report the incident happened in "North Minneapolis." Late last night, while doing my customary Google search for news with the phrase "North Minneapolis," I saw the story of the shooting and approximately 300 news organizations carrying stories about the shooting, all coming up as a hit with that search term, "North Minneapolis."
How horrible, I thought. But it was late and I wanted to get some barbacoa tacos at a local all-night Mexican food chain here in Texas, where I find myself at the moment. I figured I'd dig into the story in the morning and look for a unique angle or "loose info just laying around." I didn't even catch the part about "Bryn Mawr," I just kind of took the mainstream media's word from what I saw in the headline last night before tacos and beddy bye time.
Today, media seem to be straightening out their spectacular mistake but there are footprints near the broken cookie jar and a trail of crumbs...
Here's part of what came up a few moments ago when I did a news search on Google for North Minneapolis.
News for "north minneapolis"
- 2 are dead after shooting at north Minneapolis business
KARE - 16 hours agoMINNEAPOLIS - Two people are dead and four are injured after a shooting at a north Minneapolis business, according to the Minneapolis...
- The Republic - 17 hours agoThis is the same thread where some 300 "related" stories were listed last night. But today we only see tracks from KARE and The Republic.Which media entity, which individual reporter was the original culprit who just ASSUMED that an awful shooting (right on the heels of bullets pumped into a house in my neighborhood on Queen Avenue North) must have happened in North Minneapolis? Their thought process something like, "Mass shooting? Of course that's North Minneapolis." Like their fingers are habituated to typing the words "North Minneapolis" in headlines about shootings, they just toss the name of my neighborhood right in their headline.Bryn Mawr is in the Calhoun-Isles neighborhood group. It includes Uptown and is described on Wikipedia as the more "affluent" part of town. It is not in any way, shape or form NORTH MINNEAPOLIS.Is my neighborhood going to get an actual APOLOGY out of this? Will we get reparations in the form of some POSITIVE story about my neighborhood that wouldn't normally get written, but is so INTERESTING that some 300 news organizations around the country pick up the story? I kind of doubt it. And so it's up to me to seek a pound of mainstream media flesh and pummel it in public.You really screwed the pooch on this one, KARE-11. Hang your head in shame. Oh, you weren't the ONLY one, I am sure, but who is standing there with a cookie in his grubby hand? It's you, and your friend Republic. But Republic is based out of COLUMBUS, INDIANA and doesn't know the rules of this house. So it all comes down on you, KARE-11.BEND OVER!!! I SAID BEND OVER!!!(Sound of belt buckle coming undone and being pulled out of belt loops)THIS!! (WHAP!!!!) IS FOR DUMPING A PROBLEM ON MY NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WASN'T EVEN OUR PROBLEM! I SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO WASTE MY TIME WRITING ABOUT THIS STORY INSTEAD OF JILL CLARK'S ONGOING PUBLIC MELTDOWN.THIS!!! (WHAP!!!) IS FOR FAILURE TO FACT CHECK LIKE YOU SHOULD HAVE LEARNED IN JOURNALISM 101. YOU THOUGHT J SCHOOL WAS PAINFUL? WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD OF JOURNALISM!THIS!!! (WHAP!!!) IS FOR NOT HAVING AN APOLOGY WRITTEN IN AN ONLINE EDITORIAL BY LATE THIS MORNING!!! Oh, hell, it's already after NOON!! Here's ANOTHER ONE!!! (WHAP!!!)THIS!!! (WHAP!!) IS SO YOU'LL ALWAYS CHECK, CHECK, CHECK IN THE FUTURE BEFORE YOU USE THE NAME OF JOHNNY NORTHSIDE'S NEIGHBORHOOD IN VAIN!!!OK, that's enough.I can't say this hurts me more than it hurts you. What I will say is you owe us one, KARE-11. You really do.
13 comments:
While technically it's south Minneapolis. Generically anything north is 394 gets considered northside.
And realistically, you do more harm to the northside with this blog, than KARE11 and all the other media outlets combined.
You are the realtors' nightmare the way this blog paints the northside as a crime infested, pervert plagued wasteland.
The real WTF should be aimed at you for your depictions of north Minneapolis.
But you're too frinken blind to see the harm that you cause because you're too into yourself thinking you're some great revitalizer.
I had family members (outside of Mpls) urgently texting me and asking if I was okay because all the news outlets they were seeing said there was a shooting on Penn Ave in north Minneapolis.
John Hoff is a seriously mentally disturbed person. One of these days he will be the subject of a headline:
John "Engeldinger" Hoff.
Well Hawkman, you were the fool who bought a house on that corner. Maybe the prostitutes will give you a new neighbor discount.
Do your family members think you have the only house on Penn avenue? Maybe give them a map, so they can see the length of Penn avenue and they can stop worrying. A lot of crap happens along Penn, put their minds as ease.
But we're happy you are safe in your shire.
Jeff, sorry I posted that anonymous comment from a troll but I am worried that if the troll doesn't have a chance to vent he might turn to vices like strippers, cocaine and risky real estate deals.
By the way, Jeff, I'm not insinuating that you actually KNOW this, but what's up with this new movie The Hobbit an unexpected journey or whatever it is? My main question: Does it take place BEFORE or AFTER or DURING the events depicted in the Lord of the Rings series? How does it fit, exactly, PRECIOUS?
Oops. This comment came from the anti-Johnny but I don't post links to his blog which appear from his blogspot profile.
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You really don't learn from your mistakes... Do you? I just got an email notice from WordPress that a comment had been submitted to an article I wrote. Do you know who submitted it? Do you know what it said? Of course you do since you are the one who wrote it.
Of course it so clearly demonstrates the vindictive hate you have within and to what extremes you will go to show it.
Tune in soon to read the commentary and reaction to the vindictive attack. You know where to go to read it. Funny thing is very few people who know who you are or have any dealings with you would have ever seen your comments on that site but, we both know a whole lot of people who know you and lot of people who don't... Will soon see how you prove yourself to be vindictive and spiteful. How many allies do you think you will lose after they read it? Maybe it doesnt matter since the word is that you are bailing on NoMi for warmer climates before you get run out of town. I am not even going to ask that your comments be removed because, it would do you far more damage to leave it for all to see.
Thank you!
September 28, 2012 2:58 PM
I will try to make it simple; this unfortunate incident happened right across the Penn Avenue bridge leading into the Bryn Mawr area. The cross intersections are Chestnut Avenue West and Penn Avenue South. North Minneapolis does not start just north of 394, it starts right about the half way point of that bridge, if you want to get technical. Now say a prayer for all of the victims and their families and let it rest, please.
Thank god you were safe. I'm sure all the folks on Penn were worried, its a dangerous place no matter where on Penn you are on any given day.
John - Please read this article
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/171948211.html
It describes you. You need to go to the VA and get some help.
You need some help for your mental illness. The VA can help. Many war veterans have mental health issues. Get the help you need before someone gets hurt.
Do it on your own, you have this chance.
I am posting the following portion of a comment but not the entire comment.
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To anonymous who posted at 3:30 on September 30th; please post your identity so i can XXXXXXXXX for insulting veterans and the same goes for the coward who posted at 3:53 for making light of a tragic event. Go ahead you brave fuckers.
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Please remember not to let your comments cross a certain line, and I'm sure all of you have a pretty good idea where that line is.
Lets be honest here. I am pretty sure the Bryn Mawr neighborhood is more upset that they are being called North Minneapolis than you are.
I'm sure they'd be glad to set the record straight.
Zing!!!!!
I have to admit, that was clever.
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