Crime News Coverage

* I am encouraged by the swelling criticism, such as Sherrie Mazingo’s “The Bottom Line Is Also Tied to Credibility” (Voices, Jan. 17), of the media’s sensationalist coverage of violence. I don’t need to see live coverage each night of the latest shooting or carjacking. This violence does concern me. I want the media to report on long-term solutions, and how can I personally get involved to make our community safer.

I’m not asking for a single story on the neighborhood watch--although that’s a good place to start (we’re block captains). But, does my councilman have a plan, or a task force, to address crime in this district? Or, is there a program for at-risk youth, maybe painting over graffiti, that I can volunteer time to each month? I want to know what an average citizen can do to turn around the spread of the random, violent crime we all live in fear of. And the answer isn’t buying a gun, which we won’t have in the house with our 2-year-old.

I hope we’ll see some change in media coverage and priorities.

JEFF SCHAFFER

North Hollywood