Monday, April 29, 2013

JNS BLOG EDITORIAL: Why Is Mainstream Media Ignoring Recent Murder Charge In "After Hours Club" Double Homicide?

Image of Demetrius Harper from his Facebook page, used
under First Amendment Fair Comment and Criticism, blog
post by John Hoff


When a double murder happened at an illegal "after hours" nightclub in North Minneapolis, the mainstream media was all over the story. There were stories about the shooting itself, stories that identified the two dead men, stories about relatives of victims mourning the dead, even a story about the owner of the nightclub (Maurice Harrison) and his history of problems with the city.

So you would think that when prosecutors release a criminal complaint naming both of the alleged shooters and detailing the circumstances, media sources BESIDES The Adventures of Johnny Northside would report these details?

(Click here for this blog's coverage naming the two suspects)

Yeah, I'm kind of stumped on this phenomenon of media silence, as well...

Was there a memo? Did a memo go out to everybody and I missed it? Did the memo say, "Murders in North Minneapolis are interesting and worthy of media coverage, but if we report on the arrest of suspects, well, that's just glorifying what they've done. Allegedly. Henceforth, let's make it a policy to not even report their names."

If such a memo is circulating, I did not receive the memo. And I don't know if the memo is such a good idea, anyway. I think if a murder is worth writing about, then the arrest of an accused murderer is worth writing about, as well.

The only reason I learned about the criminal complaint with the murder charge against Cory J. Bryant was because I was looking through the jail roster (mainstream media should try this little trick, some time) and I spotted a suspect with a North Minneapolis address, serious charges, and a particularly large bail. The criminal complaint names a second suspect, Dominique Sinkfield.

Nobody spoon fed this blogger a press release or even tipped me off. I wrote the story as quickly as possible because I wanted to publish the information first, figuring there was a whole pack of media hounds who would follow with their own stories...but I wanted to have the story FIRST, damn it.

In retrospect...

Seldom does this blogger think it's actually possible to embarrass the mainstream media by sinking my teeth into a good story first, hours or even days before the mainstream media catches up. After all, my readership is relatively limited compared to, for example, the Star Tribune. My subject matter is limited, as well, and tends to stick fairly close to North Minneapolis.

So I figure that if I cover a big story first, it doesn't effect how the mainstream media covers the same story. If it's a big enough story (a murder charge in a high profile double homicide, for example) the mainstream media will cover it, anyway.

My influence, I figured, was more subtle. For example, I keep emphasizing the criminal records of the VICTIMS of shootings, making it clear murder victims in North Minneapolis are, far too often, peas that spring from the same pod as the killers.

But with the arrest of Cory J. Bryant, something has shifted in the media cosmos.

I covered the story.

And the mainstream media didn't.

Even more confusingly, this wasn't the kind of small story that I normally cover and they normally don't.

No, this is the kind of story where, normally, the mainstream media gets the story first (usually off a press release from the prosecutor's office) and in a red hot second the mainstream media are  ALL OVER IT LIKE WHITE ON RICE. 

Then, about a day later, this blogger comes along and digs up additional details in the bloody, churning wake of their massive media coverage.

That's what USUALLY happens.

When that DOESN'T happen, the pattern is this: I get the story first. I enjoy being first for about 12 to 24 hours.

Then along comes a TIDAL WAVE of mainstream media coverage.

But that didn't happen, either.

What has happened, here, confuses me.

Somebody just got charged in a high profile murder...

And nobody covered it but The Adventures of Johnny Northside.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the shooters had been white, it would have been front page, above the fold.

Anonymous said...

Scared, far left, and afraid of their shadow or what truly may lurk in their sub-conscious while claiming to be fair...cut to the chase and explain yourself, daily shit-rag.

Anonymous said...

They should have the coward shooters arrest posted BIG in all the newspapers front page,their not even letting the public know who commited this cowardly act.They should set an example out of them they thought they would't get caught.I hope they get prosecuted to the fullest especialy when they had this whole crime planned out.Justice needs to be served and they should throw the key away.

Anonymous said...

the fellows that killed this scum should be awarded a medal for saving society from their existence. bravo, pardner, and keep it up.

Anonymous said...

I was wondering by chance if this pose means that the wheels of justice pop up in the most ironic places? Keep up the good work my man.

Anonymous said...

Duhh! They haven't posted about Cory Bryant because they know he's not the killer they think he can give them info that he doesn't know they are just holding him, Just like they not telling yall that this the third time Cory Bryant has been in custody? Why they didn't keep him the first time they had him if he did it? They are not telling yall he a full time student and has three children he's fully responsible for,right! Don't feed off these negative blogs cause 9 out of 10 there not facts!

Anonymous said...

Stfu bitch mush shoot at the homie spade errtime he get cuz n mush is aka Corey fuck him

Anonymous said...

I would like more info on what kind of full time student he might be. The fact that he has three children doesn't mean he is responsible since any fool can see that all these bitches running around with two kids walking and one in the stroller and whomever the fuck the daddy might be and what his L-7 cell number is, or was, or will be. The more these assholes wipe each other out the better we will be. Fuck 'em all and let Satan sort 'em out.

Anonymous said...

nobody deserves to die at the hands of another man and even worst if the wrong man is serving time for a crime he didn't commit -free cory bryant

Anonymous said...

(Lame Ass term) 2-3 classes a day 5 days a week straight A student, hahaha that's why these hoe ass niggas mad gone shit on them with that business degree! and he know his kids his 10 1/2 year relationship. stop the hating its not a good look

Anonymous said...

Bitch u dirty and u look like u slow n so do your kids your babydaddy mush Corey Bryant kill that boy and if this is Corey babymom I got a question aint that Erik kid your brother.... Im just wondering you know the streets talk so why are you defending your boyfriend and you just buried you lil bro... Ain't no sex that good hun b real with yourself

Anonymous said...

never dirty bitch and I take care of mine like I was my brother at the time and its never about the sex ten years invested so I'm never goin that easy and I know he didn't do it so u damn right imma ride for mine

Anonymous said...

Yeah bitch remain anonymous! talkin about whats goin on is fine but bein ignorant talkin about people kids is goin too far cuz my kids stay fresh so it doesn't matter! only place we walking is to the school bus stop or the corner store so get your facts straight!!

Anonymous said...

Cyber thugs!

Anonymous said...

Ho Anon 9:18 walks to the corner store to buy Takis, Hot Cheetos, Chicago-style potato chips and Fanta soda pop and a blunt if the cashier will sell it to her on her E.B.T. card.
Ten to one your kids aren't fresh, bitch, and I am just assuming it's because of your anatomical garbage disposal.

Anonymous said...

Yeah that "erik kid" is her brother . . . Who u think he was there with that night dummy ?? This the problem with blog's like this ... yeah the streets talk ,, but who r they getting their info from Is what i wanna know !! Muhfuckas just woofin ... how many of ya'll was actually there ??? Right ... as for my niece nd nephews ,, what kind of grownup sits there nd talks about kids like that ?? Lame ass bitch ... at the end of the day ,, my brother takes care of his family ... can u say the same about any one of your multiple babydaddys ???? My sister just lost her brother ,, and her man is sitting in jail for something he ain't do .... before u judge ,, imagine if it was u .

Anonymous said...

your bro don't take care of shit cuz it be hard when you be dead, fool! imagine if it be me? ha!ha!ha!nigga it be you next!

Anonymous said...

Bottom line all yall gon be mad when this trial over and Cory Bryant is released. its always the people closest to u that try to bring u down and in this case its not gon work. watching her buy her kids snacks? ok but what are u doin for yours? what's your point? irrelevant ass sneak dissing must be your day job

Anonymous said...

Bored as hell? what's your point you must want Cory Bryant for yourself? you must be someone close trying to make them look bad

Anonymous said...

to 1156- at least i got a job and the goverment be buyin the snacks for them ,so it beez that way in your thug life world.

Anonymous said...

Niggas sound dumb WTF his family gotta do with shit mfz run thy mouth then wanna hide behind shit my friend coming home to his now I bet ur broke ass can't keep up bitch ass niggas mad cuz they ain't ready.tf on nigga no how this street shit work o police ass niggas

Anonymous said...

Fooley gone be cool pussy ass nigga stop hating

Anonymous said...

You illiterate mooching assholes need to go crawl back to your mother's teat and suck some purple drank out of them nasty titties, pussy bitches.