Which Way Is It on Subway Crime? More Dangerous Than NYC, Or Falling?

March 2nd, 2012 2:23 PM

Same facts, very different spins. A non-political example of how journalists can apply contrasting spins to the same set of facts.

The front page of Thursday’s Washington Examiner: “Metro’s crime rate tops N.Y., L.A., Philly; System’s robberies exceed Big Apple’s

Headline on page three of the “Metro” section of the same day’s (March 1) Washington Post:
Serious Metro crime has fallen, Transit Police say

Both headlines are accurate.

Each newspaper just chose to emphasize different points with the Washington Post summarizing rhe Metro Transit Police’s press release while the Washington Examiner did that and contrasted those numbers with stats from other subway systems.