Yellow Journalism – Pasadena Now

Dear Editors and Publishers of Pasadena Now,

I hope this message cheers you up. My name is Esprit Lauren Jones and she has lived in Pasadena for over 40 years and is currently the Chair of the Pasadena Regional Police Oversight Commission.

Today, I write this letter to express my deep concern about recent misinformation spread by the Pasadena Police Department and failures on the part of the police department. pasadena now To tell a more accurate story.

To be clear, I am not representing the Community Police Oversight Board in this letter. Instead, I speak as a lifelong resident who is deeply committed to the well-being of the community. My grandparents met, married and raised their families here. Pasadena has deep roots. This city is not just my home. It’s part of who I am. Therefore, we cannot stand by and watch as false narratives taint the history and evolution of this community.

We must face the truth about the history and current state of our cities. We have a responsibility to report accurately, especially when it comes to stories that impact our community. The perpetuation of over-policing in Black and Brown neighborhoods and the promotion of discrimination and racial bias have deep-rooted effects. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to dismantle these harmful narratives.

I write this letter with a sense of mission to correct the misinformation that has been spread not only by the Pasadena Police Department, but through platforms such as: pasadena now. The effects of these inaccuracies reverberate throughout our communities, causing harm and further marginalizing those who have historically been disenfranchised.

Although I agree that it shows a minimum level of professionalism. pasadena now In announcing a correction to the original report, it should be noted that this does not undo the damage of the “yellow journalism” headlines that woke us up Monday morning. No fix, no matter how swift, will fully address the harm caused by misleading headlines that shape public perception.

We urge Pasadena Now to issue a public apology. About the role of the community Spreading irresponsible and harmful statements. These narratives shape the perceptions, policies, and overall well-being of our communities, so it is very important that the media is held accountable for the narratives they contribute (as PPD should be). It is important.

Esprit Lauren Jones