Down and out in California, Boston and beyond

Sometimes newspapers need to keep themselves grounded by looking out for the less fortunate. Coverage of the downtrodden in society is a difficult situation that requires a great deal of sensitivity to pull off without condescension. A few of the major papers attempt this today with varying results.

I'm not so sure how I feel about this New York Times lede today: "Out of the burning brush, from behind canyon rocks, several immigrants bolted toward a group of firefighters, chased not by the border police but by the onrush of flames from one of the biggest wildfires this week." It seems more than a little degrading to begin an article meant to show how illegal migrants are being affected by the fires by showing them in the role of constant fugitives. The article contains very little suggestion of sympathy--many of the quotes are from government officials and others in San Diego who want to quell illegal immigration. Of course, there's no need for it to show sympathy; the reporting should remain unbiased. But the lede and the focus of the sources seem to suggest a prejudiced view of the situation.

A Boston Globe article today takes a view of the most downtrodden parts of the city that is much closer to the community. An article on Boston officials' plan to canvass parts of Dorchester and Roxbury to ask residents what can be done to improve their neighborhoods and their safety does not right from a lofty perspective high above the problem, as the Times article on illegal migrants did. The article focuses on the details of Mayor Menino's initiative and how his plans will be carried out. Quoting the mayor, known for being an unpretentious "man of the people," also keeps the tone grounded. Still, even this article lacks the opinions of residents of these neighborhoods: how will they respond to the canvassers? Perhaps it is too early to take their opinion; I hope to see a follow-up article once this gets underway, though.

The Washington Post gets my highest accolades today, though, for its coverage of "ghost prisoners," arrested by the CIA overseas and transported from one jail to the next without anyone knowing of their whereabouts. The in-depth investigative piece combines comments from government officials and human rights groups with individual stories of prisoners. It is not overly sympathetic to the plight of the prisoners: the article draws attention to the potential threats certain prisoners were thought to have posed, reminding us that the U.S. government does operate with safety in mind (at least some of the time). This is a great example of the media remembering its role as a watchdog of the government.