Misleading, Inflamatory headline in todays Peekskill Patch!

The purpose of a daily newspaper is to bring its readers the news, not to incite fear and mistrust.  The headline in Today’s Peekskill Patch, “Predator at Peekskill Motel” implies immediate danger from who know what form of predator, yet the underlying story is a follow up to an incident that happened months ago.  This is just one such instance of this misleading journalism tactic that I have seen in the Patch recently.

If you click on the headline to get to the story written by Lanning Taliaferro, you are sent to a page which shows a man in a lovely tuxedo standing on a stage where awards are being given out.  It has nothing to do with the headline that just sent shivers down your spine.  If you scroll way down the page you will find a story about a man (albeit an accused sexual predator) being indicted on charges of having arranged a meeting at the motel with an under aged boy many months ago.  We are not suggesting that the Patch not report these crimes, nor are we trying to minimize the seriousness of this particular crime, but   

It is news like this that instills images of Peekskill that are totally false and hampers the city’s efforts to insure visitors that Peekskill is a safe and wonderful place to visit.  A recent study of crime in New York State showed Peekskill as the 22nd safest place in the entire state, but it is irresponsible journalism such as this that helps to keep the negative image of Peekskill alive.

I think Ms. Taliaferro, and the Patch, owe the proprietors of the motel in question, and the city of Peekskill an apology.  And a way to do it would be to publish an story about the city, pointing out all the good things the city has to offer residents and visitors alike.