And if they did that it would be just as wrong. You are wrong about this. Sorry you don't see this. The Oregonian is a newspaper that prints - it is true - and that business is dying rapidly. The Oregonian is also a web site and the news stories are out immediately. This news story was posted ONE HOUR after the incident. Additionally, in the article, the Oregonian says the police are at the time of the writing actively looking for the suspects and solicits the public to come forward with any information and report it to the police. This is not a recap story of a cold case or solved case. Police: Hello. Citizen: Yes, I wanted to tell you about these 3 dudes downtown walking around all dressed in white.... Police: Can you describe them? Citizen: They had tattoos and one was real tall, like a basketball player, and another had dreadlocks... Police: Were they black? Citizen: No. Police: We are looking for black suspects. Citizen: Oh. Well why didn't you say so? Police: We did.
This is just an excuse. Their real motive is blindingly obvious. If they applied this criteria to all the facts in their stories, they would have very, very few news stories. "We have little to report today, as we are unable to independently verify the alleged facts in every newsworthy incident during the last 24 hours."
medium height, medium weight a face devoid of features, instantly forgettable, like that one dudes name from that party, i forgot it before we finished shaking hands
Given the economic situation of the newspaper business these days (dying off), if they want to be politically sensitive so as not to offend readers . . . I don't see a fault with that (even though that isn't what is going on in this case). The Oregonian should be in survival mode trying to keep as many of their subscribed readers as possible. Not trying to appease those that probably don't read their paper in the first place.
TV news became mouthpieces for authority figures back in 2001; the Tribune is barely a tabloid level paper.
