In each case, violence has been found to be a straightforward function of poverty, income disparity. Here we go again. Young equals violent. And top political officials concur. More male teenagers, more crime.
Journalists ought to be aware they are pouring gasoline on a fire they have already fanned.
Responsible journalists would be looking to reverse this dangerous misimpression they have helped create. Just the opposite is occurring. In the scare campaign against adolescents, the news media not only uncritically repeat official claims, they actively embellish them with sinister cover stories and apocalyptic tales of suburban mayhem. Though casting a few paeans to details like poverty, discrimination and abuse, the media scare campaign declares that violence is innate to teenagers and coming mayhem is inevitable. The problem is its wrongheaded explanation for why violence is rising.