http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wium/local-wium-981138.mp3
Macomb, IL – The panelists discuss a Chicago TV station's story that includes a soundbite of a four-year old boy saying, "I'm going to have me a gun."
The boy was interviewed by a freelance photographer at the scene of a drive-by shooting on the city's south side. CBS 2 aired the soundbite without including the followup quote in which the boy explains why he wants a gun: "I'm going to be the police."
Some groups have accused the station of racism for leaving out the followup quote. But the Shop Talk panelists believe it was a simple matter of poor editing.
The panelists point out station staffers spiked the story when they discovered what the boy said during the full interview. The panelists say mistakes are sometimes made in newsrooms, especially during the rush to get a story on the air.
Questions have also been raised regarding whether it's okay to interview such a young child at a crime scene. The panelists don't object because the child might be able to provide some information, but they say at least one adult should also be interviewed to verify the child's account of what happened.