For two weeks in September 2021, the news media was a flurry with coverage of the case of Gabrielle Petito. The story of Petito’s disappearance and murder is, without a doubt, both upsetting and disturbing. I can’t imagine the depth of the pain and grief her friends and family are experiencing, and it is not difficult to empathize with their loss.
The presentation of Petito’s case made it seem like a one-off event. The truth is it was not.
Knowing the Stats
Crime statistics can give us some sense of how often these crimes happen. Trends in crime rates should not be examined in isolation because they reflect a variety of factors.
Despite these limitations, the number of violent crimes in America is alarming. In the last year, crimes resulting in death increased by 50% in major American cities. Across the nation, there were 543,018 missing persons cases reported in 2020. And these numbers were reported during a pandemic – when the world was supposedly in lockdown.
Unfortunately, data from previous years are really no different. The truth is, Americans live in a society where violent crimes happen. They happen to everyone – from all walks of life, age groups, races, religions, gender identities, geographic regions and so on. Sadly, individuals from certain subgroups are four times more likely to experience a violent crime.
Media Coverage
The media is the primary source of the public’s information about crime. But the sheer number of crimes happening around the country make it impossible for the news media to report all of them.
But that does not mean that it is unreasonable to expect the media to provide representative coverage.
The coverage of the Petito case showed that media coverage of crimes does not accurately reflect the frequency of these events across American society. Nor does it accurately reflect the demographics of who the victims are.
In recent opinion piece in the New York Times, Charles Blow recalled Gwen Ifill’s 2004 comment, “if there is a white woman missing, you are going to cover that every day”. Blow rightly points out, in my opinion, that lack of representative coverage reflects society’s inability to see all humans as equal.
There are many who agree with the assertion that the media does not provide equal coverage to crimes affecting minorities. A recent Washington Post article conveyed the thoughts and sentiments of minority families who, rightfully, can’t understand why news of their missing loved ones have never been mentioned in the mass media.
These families have good reason to seek widespread media coverage – it may help them find their loved ones.
Who Decides?
Understandably, there are many factors that determine what to include in a news broadcast. But it is imperative that we not allow these factors to also determine the value society places on the life of a person who has been the victim of a crime.
Everyone’s life matters. Everyone’s story counts. Everyone’s experience of hardship and loss is important. A person’s demographic profile has no bearing on whether they have a right to share their story and or if others have a right to hear about it. Social media sometimes provide a vehicle for amplifying unheard voices but it does not negate the need for mass media to ensure representativeness in its news coverage.
Analysis of the coverage of the Petito raises issues that go beyond the “missing white woman syndrome”. Digging a bit deeper into the larger issue of race, ethnicity and crime reveals that violent crimes against Black and Latinx people receive less coverage and less justice.
Who decided this and on what basis?
Taking Action
Given this backdrop, the question we must confront is: “What can each of us do in our daily lives to promote more inclusive, representative and accurate media coverage of the events that impact our society?”.
One thing we can do is become better consumers of news. We can also be more intentional in how we use social media and recognize how our posts and sharing can lead to sensationalism.
It is likely that violent crimes will continue to be something that affects American society. We should expect that news coverage of these types of crimes becomes more representative.
In any event, the Petito case provides us with an opportunity tot think about how we can use our voices and online platforms to bring attention to, and widespread publication of, all cases.
It is possible. Studies show that the public can be a driver in the news process.
Shared and Equal Humanity
On a more basic level, every time there is a news story of a violent crime, we have an opportunity to focus on our collective humanity and take action to build a better society.
When a crime happens to one of us, we should realize it can happen to any of us. The crime is not important because of who it happened to. It’s important because society needs to know it can happen and it does happen – much more than we realize – to people that look like us and people who do not.
Experiencing a violent crime causes parents, friends, loved ones and family to be inundated by an overwhelming tidal wave of emotions – love, hate, hope, despair, anger, fear, frustration, loss, vulnerability, strength, determination, worry, happiness, grief, and confusion. Every human being has some experience with these emotions – irrespective of race, religion, or other demographic characteristic.
No matter who falls victim to a violent crime, our response should be sympathetic and empathetic and affirm our belief that every human life matters. Demographic differences need not affect our ability to understand another person’s pain and suffering.
Everyone deserves to be treated equally.