Nets Cover Mike Brown Death 23X More than the 130 Killed in Chicago

Michael Brown was killed on August 9 in Ferguson, Mo. From that day until Nov. 24, when it was announced the grand jury would not indict Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting, the network evening news programs covered the incident 92 times. On the other hand, between Aug. 9 and Nov. 24, there were 855 reported shootings in Chicago, 130 of them fatal. Total Windy City homicides since Brown’s death are at least 155. In all that time, analysis of broadcast transcripts shows, the network evening news programs mentioned Chicago violence just four times, and it was central to only two of those stories. That’s an incredible disparity in coverage – 23 times more for 129 fewer victims. When they did cover Chicago violence, the picture painted was bleak.

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