In response to Nathan Colquhoun's column, "Hot Tub Copaganda". Dear Editor, I read the article "Hot Tub Copaganda" which suggests that police reports are designed to elicit fear. I disagree with the example given. “Family awakes to stranger bathing in their hot tub” does not set up "a fear-based narrative".Most of the words are simply […]
In response to Nathan Colquhoun's column, "Hot Tub Copaganda".
Dear Editor,
I read the article "Hot Tub Copaganda" which suggests that police reports are designed to elicit fear.
I disagree with the example given. “Family awakes to stranger bathing in their hot tub” does not set up "a fear-based narrative".Most of the words are simply informative. "Stranger" is someone unknown to the people involved. "Awakes to" means that they were previously sleeping. "Family" simply tells you that there is more than one person and children are at the location.
I think it is Mr. Colquhoun who interprets the wording to suggest fear, heroes, and villians. I don't.
Mr. Colquhoun presents a good question when he asks, why the man was there in the hot tub? However, I do not expect that information from a police report or media release. I do expect a journalist to dive deeper and present the background story, which is why I read newspapers.
Carol Graham
