Fresno Famous

maybe it's a turn for the better

I have not seen the (print) version of the story, so I don't know if the titling is the same on the computer as it is in print.

For me, the title and subheading is fine and does the job.

Usually, when reporting, the industry standard is the 'inverted pyramid,' 'war-reporting,' style.
(Yeah, I was in journalism school, no I didn't like it.)

Main thrust of such a layout(Inverted Pyramid,)-for the unitiated,
-Tell the 'main point,' of the story first, (in the first few lines,) then fill in the details as you go along, with the most important ones following the initial lines.
Why?

In 'war' correspondance, (one of the patterns of journalism,) you would get on the radio or whatever media method you had, and give the 'down to the bone,' main points first,
---in case you (as a correspondant,) were shot.

-It's the same idea (kind of,) as any 'emergency,' radio.
-You ID, you give cooordinates, you tell the main facts, and make sure that they are understood before going on.
(Think of Sgt. Joe Friday saying 'Just the Facts, Ma'am, just the facts.')

I agree with Ed, (...whups, he just fainted,)
in that the main connection (and interest point,) of this man is that he's the father of a local olympic athlete.

I think, because of the nature of the situaion, they really can't say a whole lot in terms of what was really going on, (particularlly as the article unfolds,)
-as this mans behavior regrettably went very opposite of his usual mindset, (And) it is not known really what he was thinking or looking to do when he went he set off along Hearndon, is still being investigated by the police, --and may involve further legal proceedings.

I don't know if it was a matter of 'preferrential treatment,'
(as THAT would have been maybe leaving out a lot of stuff, -including who this man's son is.)

Maybe it's just the Bee extending some dignity, (as well as NOT inferring a lot of stuff,) about the situation.

I'm glad that it wasn't something like:
'...Viet Vet Snaps, leads cops on highspeed chase, is shot down before he has a chance to kill his wife...'
---I mean,
THAT would have been sick, -as well as spinning the story and really charging it.

From (at least the paper's story,)
-this was a decent man,
-who was also a decorated veteran who may not even survive a mental breakdown,
-where the police had to do something unfortunate,
-to prevent further (potential bloodshed.)

There are only so many ways to convey all of this information without making it sound ghoulish, slandering the situation, -and without riding on (his kids,) hard work and talent, (and tarnishing it.)

I think, this time, the Bee err'd on the side of dignity, while still reporting the news.

Preferrential treatment?
Maybe more like 'decent straightforward reporting.'

"Hurt in shootout..."

While that's technically a true statement, it seems a little...vague, at best, though it is cleared up some in the reader below.

For comparison, look at this headline.

maybe now i see

as i keep looking @ the headline, the headline itself is very vague. "father of olympic snowborder hurt in shootout." who was the shootout with? what was his involvement? innocent bystander or active participant? i see where you're going.

a more descriptive one might have been,
"father of olympic snowborder shoots at police"

head(line)s up

i'm trying to think what headlines have been for similar events, or what it could have been if it hadn't been a semi-famous person.

"crazed man takes cop for ride, fires shots."

well, the current headline is sure nicer than that one.

i'm struggling to make headlines. i can come up with a lot of the bi-lines though.

had he been in a gang, they would have played that up.
had he been an athlete, they would have played that up.
had he been a local pastor, they would have played that up.
had he been...you see where i'm going.
had he been a blogger on fresno famous, well, they might have gone with "self-aggrandizing internet freak," but maybe that's just for me.

so, they're playing up his very small connection to something bigger to sell some papers. it's like a plane crashes, and the news is like, "the third uncle to a clovis resident was almost on the plane."

Not sure I see it

Though, by the background information contained in the article, it could have been much more sensationalistic, the headline seems to be accurate and not exploitave,(so the news was reported without being hyped.)

They could have said 'owner of local zoo/gardens,' 'recent motorcycle purchaser,' 'area man,' (etc.) to describe the man, but instead they identified him by his more recent (and better known,) distinction, ('father of a local intl. athlete.')

-I think there was a decent degree of reserve in not pushing it into some huge thing (because,) 'he's the father of' an sports/semi-star. (I'm using the word 'semi,' only as a comparative on the sport not being as well known and promoted as, say, a major team sport.)

It's sad that the man 'snapped,' AND that he was armed, (nobody in law enforcement wants to take anyone down,
-and knowing that someone is an emotionally disturbed person means that you're having to make an even more severe choice regarding someone who (due to their condition,) possibly cannot make better choices,
(vs somebody who is clearminded and 'choosing off,' on an endangering an officer, the public, and breaking the law.)

It's unfortunate that this person could not have been helped sooner,
-and unfortunate as well that he was armed.
(THAT he was armed, and had chosen to shoot at people (police qualify as people,) really left them with no other choice.

Hopefully he will recover (and,) gladly noone was further injured.
Though my heart goes out to those involved, I am thinking that this could have been much worse, and may have been headed into a (possible multiple,) homicide / suicide.

-What inconsistancies are you seeing, Josh?