Star News’ mugshots are gross
The new Mugshots app on Star News online site is gross. You can’t go all high-minded and Fourth Estate in one day’s letter from the editor — as editor Robyn Tomlin did in her don’t-cry-for-us-journalists piece a week or so ago, in which she patted the paper on the back for the good job they did exposing the ABC’s habit of venality — and then all TMZ like this the next. It’s lurid. And cloying. And intentions matter. And today’s article about this new site makes the intentions pretty clear:
Research about similar mugshots Web sites in Florida showed there was an intense interest among consumers in viewing the faces of those who allegedly committed crimes in their area, Tomlin said.
“Intense interest among consumers”??
Interesting, I saw this today and felt sorry for the sad sacks whose dirty laundry is now on the web. But face it, this is the world we live in— everything is on the web, and nothing is really confidential. Warn your children. Can’t really close Pandora’s box now, can we? Honestly, I guess a computer punishment for a computer generation might be the perfect deterrent… I would rather go to jail than have my unattractive mugshot on the web! (I get enough of that on facebook.) Another layer of shame and punishment, but it in the end it seems a little unAmerican to humiliate folks without due process. Also seems strange that the newspaper is dealing out the consequences. Of course Star News only has the best intentions to fight crime in the Port City… I hear they are building a whipping post on 17th St.
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I dashed off this post a little flippantly I think, Amy.
You’re right that it’s all coming, will all be posted on the web.
I was reacting to the apparent hypocrisy of high-minded journalism and mugshots for the masses, but the SNO contains multitudes, just like all organizations. And they’re trying to figure it all out like the rest of us.
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Intense interest in Florida? Isn’t that where “Cops” originated? So now we can expect Mug Shots R Us on every struggling newspaper website?
Down the rabbit hole we go.
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Ian, I agree with you completely. I am absolutely horrified by this new website “feature.” I hope someone with some connection to the legal system will keep a very close eye on it to make sure NO one is omitted …. I’m always hearing stories about how some member of the high and mighty class, or their offspring, has been arrested but it was never mentioned in the Star-News. That shouldn’t happen now – unless the powerful manage somehow to get the mugshot itself quashed.
I also agree with Amy. I don’t think the two positions are mutually exclusive. I’ve been warning people – especially those just coming of age – for at least 10 years that they had better be careful, as everything they do will be there for everyone to Google, for the rest of their lives.
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Hi Susan – The Star News would of course say that the mugshots are justified — or will be justified — by market demand, by how much more traffic they drive to the site.
Makes me think of this great article I’m just reading now about news and the market, When It Comes to News, Why Won’t People Eat Their Vegetables? (O’Reilly)
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Mugshots only show arrests and not convictions, right? If I’m right about that, this seems especially “tabloid.” On a lighter note, I do have to say that I enjoy the way some of our little jail birds were “voguing” for the camera. Reminds me to start carrying my lipstick and comb with me…
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I agree, Tanya. The issue here — and I think you’re right — is that these people haven’t been found guilty yet.
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I Think that the Star News Mugshots site is great and for the people that dont think its great dont break the law and your MUG will not be displayed how about that? Everyone one has a choice in life. People who go out and do wrong know that they are doing wrong and its not if you will ever get caught, its when you get caught, and thats when you must suffer the consequences. This is all about public records.
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