Several readers have called out Bristow Beat and other news media for perpetuating negative news, such as local crime stories.
Despite efforts in the past week to post stories about new restaurants, music festivals, new school administrators, educational initiatives, and a ton of coverage of local swim teams, the downbeat stories that we have run lately are simply more impactful.
A significant number of residents rely on Bristow Beat to provide insight into their communities. We are charged with the responsibility of providing the news that readers need and unfortunately lately that information skews negative.
We do not seek to pander to the cynics or incite public outcry; we want to keep you informed and safe.
Consider our Restaurant Inspections feature as an example. In the course of publishing these reports over the past two years, we have consistently publicized the danger that some operators perpetuate on the public. Note the number of restaurants in the area that the Prince William Health District cites each month for violations in food storage, specifically holding temperatures. According to experts, food stored improperly is the prime cause of harmful food-borne bacteria: the stuff that gets people really sick. Particularly disturbing is the number of repeat violations we uncover.
In the past two weeks, there may seem to have been a spike in residential crime in Gainesville and Bristow. According to Prince William County Police, there has not been a drastic increase in crime this summer in western Prince William County. Bristow Beat has verified this claim through the informal method of counting crime reports in June and July 2014 and comparing them during the same period in 2013.
While, it may not be preferable to read about burglaries in your neighborhood the first thing in the morning, the earlier we post, the more the story disseminates, and the more residents can take precautions. Some may live by the credo, “ignorance is bliss,” many more of our readers prefer to be informed.
We are not defending our practice, only clarifying our product. Residents visit BristowBeat.com for the latest breaking and relevant news. And that’s what we will continue to provide.
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