>>> THANKS FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BRANDON WILL JOIN US SHORTLY.

TONIGHT, THE LATEST IN OUR SERIES, WTTW NEWS SAFER CITY.

WE ARE DEVOTING OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM TO THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY SAFETY.

WE ARE ALSO PRIORITIZING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR ONLINE COVERAGE AS WELL INCLUDING AT WTTW.COM /SAFERCITY.

TONIGHT, A DEEP DIVE ON HOW THE MEDIA COVERS CRIME.

AN EFFORT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

HERE'S WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT.

THREE LOCAL JOURNALISTS SHARE THEIR INSIGHTS ON HOW LOCAL NEWS COVERAGE OF CRIME AND HOW THOSE IMPACT COMMUNITIES.

>> I DON'T WATCH THE NEWS.

>> WE MEET FUTURE STORYTELLERS WANT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE ABOUT VIOLENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

>>> AND WHAT IS MISUNDERSTOOD ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIOLENCE.

ALL OF THAT RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE GYM AND K MAY BE FUND.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND SUPPORT FROM THESE DONORS.

>>> CHICAGO TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVES FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>>> THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING WITH US.

SOME ARE MONDAYS OFTEN MEAN NEWS OUTLETS ARE COVERING SOME VERSION OF THE SAME STORY.

THE WEEKENDS VIOLENCE.

IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF OUR SUMMER SERIES, WTTW SAFER CITY, WE ARE TURNING THE LENS ON OURSELVES AND THE MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF THE CITY'S PERSISTENT PROBLEM.

WE START OFF BY HEARING FROM FUTURE MEDIA MAKERS ABOUT THEIR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT HOW VIOLENCE IS COVERED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND HOW THEY PLAN TO CHANGE IT.

BRANDON JOINS US NOW FROM NORTH LAWNDALE WITH MORE.

>> Reporter: WE ARE HERE AT THE NEW HOME OF FREE SPIRIT MEDIA.

AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THEY WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE ON MEDIA ARTS AND CREATIVE STORYTELLING.

THIS COMMUNITY, NORTH LAWNDALE, IS ALSO HOME FOR SOME OF THOSE FREE SPIRIT MEDIA PARTICIPANTS AND THEY TELL US THEY BELIEVE THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS MISSING OUT ON WHAT THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS REALLY MEAN FOR THEM.

19-YEAR-OLD DAVIS SAYS SHE IS NOT ONE FOR WATCHING THE NEWS.

>> THEY DON'T SHOW THE LOVE THAT WE SHOW AND HOW WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

HOW WE HELP OUT.

YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU GO, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> Reporter: BECAUSE OF ITS COVERAGE OF VIOLENCE.

>> IT'S TRAUMATIZING TO LOOK TO WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO SLEEP.

IT'S ALWAYS THE NEGATIVES AND NOT THE POSITIVES GOING ON.

THERE ALWAYS SING THE BAD THINGS.

IT'S SO MUCH VIOLENCE.

>> Reporter: SHE IS NOT ALONE.

24-YEAR-OLD NATE POINTS TO A LACK OF CONTEXT IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA COVERAGE.

>> HOW YOU PORTRAY A SUBJECT TRULY AFFECTS HOW SOMEONE CAN DIGEST IT.

RIGHT?

I THINK WE DO NOT REALLY CONTEXTUALIZE THE PEOPLE WHO WE DEFINE AS PERPETRATORS AS VICTIMS.

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW LACK OF RESOURCES AFFECT THE DECISION-MAKING.

HOW THEY, THEMSELVES, HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY THE SYSTEM THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO THRIVE IN.

>> Reporter: THERE BOTH PARTICIPANTS IN FREE SPIRIT MEDIA, A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE 11 TO 25 YEARS OLD FROM THE WEST AND SOUTH SIDES OF CHICAGO.

>> THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT.

>> Reporter: STAFF WORK TO CREATE STUDENTS LIKE MEDIA ART PROJECTS TO AMPLIFY THEIR OWN VOICES.

>> THEY ARE THEIR OWN HEROES.

THEY CAN ALSO BE THEIR OWN VILLAINS.

IT IS UP TO THEM TO TELL THEIR OWN STORY.

>> THE FIRST THING I WILL SHOW YOU IS, KIND OF, HOW I PUT THESE ON FOR WORK.

>> Reporter: TODAY THEY'RE RECEIVING TRAINING FROM A FREE SPIRIT ALUMNUS PHOTOGRAPHER.

>> I LEARNED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMERAS AND THE CAMERA BENEFITS.

IT GAVE ME HOPE THAT I COULD BE ANYTHING.

>> Reporter: AND LEARNING TO TELL THEIR OWN STORIES, THE COUNTY PLANS TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

>> I WANT THEM TO KNOW IT IS OKAY TO BE UNIQUE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE NO ONE ELSE.

NO ONE IS PERFECT.

>> Reporter: CREATIVE PATHWAYS DIRECTOR ALSO POINTS TO THE NEED FOR STORIES ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TO COME FROM THE COMMUNITY TO SNAP A COMPLETE PICTURE.

>> WE HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ARE WALKING ON THE STREET AND, LIKE, THIS IS HOME FOR ME.

I UNDERSTAND SOME OF THIS STUFF DOESN'T HAPPEN BUT THAT'S MY SCHOOL LOCATION.

SO, IT'S, LIKE, HOW DOES THE NEWS COVERAGE AGAIN GET ON THE GROUND SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALREADY ON THE GROUND AND TELL THE STORIES BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND WITH FRESH EYES.

>> THE GROUP HOPES MORE CHICAGOANS AND THOSE OUTSIDE THE CITY CAN EXPERIENCE THEIR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE LENS OF YOUNG STORYTELLERS LIKE NATE AND JULIA.

>> THEY ALWAYS HAVE BLOCK PARTIES OR GIVEAWAYS .

THE SCHOOL, THEY ARE STILL OPEN AND THEY JUST HAD A BARBECUE FOR ALUMNI AS THEY GRADUATED.

THEY'RE GIVING BACK BUT THEY DON'T SHOW THAT.

>> ACTUALLY EXPERIENCE IT.

THAT IS A GOOD PART.

>> Reporter: NOW, OF COURSE, THE PROGRAMMING HERE IS DONE FOR THE DAY BUT AS I MENTIONED, THIS IS A NEW LOCATION FOR FREE SPIRIT MEDIA.

THE PURPOSE IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

MORE COMMUNITY CENTRIC ON THE COURT AND OF OGDEN AND CENTRAL PARK.

THE GROUP IS RENTING FROM THE WESTSIDE ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY ACTION WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF ORGANIZING.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TELLS ME THAT WENT VERY WELL FOR ONE OF THE MISSIONS WHICH IS TO BUILD MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.

BACK TO YOU.

>>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

>>> FOLLOWING UP ON THE CONCERNS, IS VIOLENT CRIME OUT OF CONTROL OR ARE MEDIA OUTLETS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTING OUR PERCEPTION OF IT?

WE EXPLORE HOW THE MEDIA COVERS CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

COFOUNDER AND PUBLISHER OF THE TRIBE, THE DIGITAL MEDIA PLATFORM, REPORTED ON THE EXPERIENCE OF BLACK CHICAGOANS.

CHARLES WHITAKER, A PROFESSOR AND CBS TO ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR THE SENSOR FOR ILLINOIS POLITICS WEBSITE.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU.

SO, STARTING WITH YOU, CHARLES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL TV NEWS, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS, NATIONAL NEWS, ARE THEY GIVING AN ACCURATE PORTRAYAL OF VIOLENT CRIME IN CHICAGO OR ARE THEY JUST DISTORTING THE PICTURE?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE DISTORTING IT BUT AS WAS SAID IN THE EARLIER PIECE, THEY ARE NOT PROVIDING IT IN CONTEXT.

WE ARE STILL PRISONERS TO OUR CONVENTIONS OF STORYTELLING.

WE ARE ALSO TRAPPED BY THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE NEWSCAST WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW US TO PROVIDE THE CONTEXT.

THE ABILITY TO EXPLORE HOW AND WHY WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE NECESSARILY HYPING THE VIOLENCE, THE VIOLENCE IS THERE , BUT WE ARE NOT PROVIDING A FULL PICTURE.

>> YOU SPENT MANY MANY YEARS IN THE NEWSROOM TALKING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY, FOCUSING ON VIOLENT CRIMES, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW THAT IS IMPACTING THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF SAFETY IN CHICAGO?

>> IF YOU TAKE A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, IT SHINE SOME LIGHT ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS CERTAINLY AN INCREASE IN CRIME DURING THE GEORGE FLOYD UPRISING AND DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT WAS REAL.

BUT, THE CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL NARRATIVE IS SKEWED.

MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, CHICAGO HAS A RECORD NUMBER OF MURDERS DURING MAYOR DALEY ONE, THE 1974 AND MAYOR DALEY TWO, IN 1992.

NO ONE WAS SAYING CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL THEN.

WE HAVE A SHARPER LENS.

BY THE WAY, DURING THOSE TWO YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE 200 MORE PEOPLE WERE MURDERED IN CHICAGO.

>> IT WAS APPROACHING 1000.

>> SO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT.

IT STARTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND IT WAS LED BY THE NEWSPAPER.

THE TRIBUNE STARTED, IN PARTICULAR, -- STARTED RECORDING WEEKEND MURDER TALLIES AND WEEKLY MURDER TALLIES.

IN A WAY, THEY HAD US ALL FOOLED.

THAT INCREASED PEOPLE'S PERCEPTION THAT CRIME WAS DEFINITELY A BIGGER PROBLEM THAN IT WAS.

>> IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE AN EDITORIAL SHIFT TO START FOCUSING ON INDIVIDUAL CRIME LIKE THAT.

MORGAN ELISE JOHNSON, SPEAKING OF WHAT DEREK SAID, THERE IS A TRIP OP-ED THAT SITES THAT VIOLENT CRIME BEFORE THE PANDEMIC WAS ABOUT ONE THIRD OF WHAT IT WAS IN THE 90s.

AGAIN, THIS PERCEPTION, THE SKEWED PERCEPTION, HOW DOES THAT IMPACT THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE AT THE CENTER OF THIS?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THAT THE NEWS MEDIA DOES A LOT TO SHAPE THE ATTITUDES AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF CRIME AND EVEN -- THE MEDIA HAS A ROLE IN DEFINING WHAT CRIME IS, RIGHT?

SHOOTINGS, HOMICIDES, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT PEOPLE BREAK THE LAW, RIGHT?

THOSE TYPES OF CRIMES AFFECT A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC OF PEOPLE AND THAT ALSO HELPS TO SHAPE WHAT WE THINK AS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND WHAT ARE SOCIETAL PRIORITY SHOULD BE.

THE MEDIA HAS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY IN CHOOSING THE STORIES THAT WE SEE, THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY TAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR.

>> CHARLES, HOW COULD A LOCAL TV NEWSCAST DO A BETTER JOB AT PROVIDING CONTEXT AND NOT JUST REPORTING ON INDIVIDUAL CRIMES?

>> TO HAVE THE COURAGE OR CONVICTION TO DO JUST THAT.

ACTUALLY HAVE MOMENTS IN TIME WHERE WE WILL TAKE A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE , AS DEREK SAID, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE MURDER RATE WAS HIGHER THAN IT IS NOW.

WE NEED THAT PERSPECTIVE TODAY.

AS MORGAN SAID, WE NEED TO GET A LOOK AT CRIME HOLISTICALLY AND NOT JUST SENSATIONAL CRIMES THAT LEAD US ALL TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE LIVING IN THIS DYSTOPIAN .

>> ALL YOUR YEARS IN LOCAL TV, WERE YOU EVER FRUSTRATED WITH MANAGEMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEIR APPROACH WAS TO COVER THE CRIME AND THE CONSTANT SPOT REPORTING?

>> WELL, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I HAD TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF THE FAMILY OF A MURDER VICTIM.

THAT IS NOT PLEASANT.

TO TRY TO TALK TO THEM, WHAT I TRIED TO DO WAS TO CONVINCE THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO TELL A STORY OF THE PERSON IN THEIR FAMILY HAD BEEN LOST.

THE INTEGRITY AND THE SENSITIVITY.

TO MAKE THEM INTO HUMAN BEING, NOT A STATISTIC.

WHAT NEWSROOMS NEED TO DO IS FOCUS ON FEWER CRIMES AND MORE INTENTIONALLY DECIDE WHAT THEY COVER.

THEY HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES THE QUESTION, WHAT LIGHT IS IS GOING TO SHINE ON THE GREATER PROBLEM?

THIS PARTICULAR CRIME, REPORTING ON THIS PARTICULAR CRIME, THERE HAVE BEEN, I MEAN, SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

THERE IS LESS USE OF MUG SHOTS AND LOW-LEVEL CRIMES.

>> ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNGER OFFENDERS.

>> EXACTLY.

ANOTHER IMPROVEMENT THAT CAN BE MADE IS, IN SOME PLACES, NEWSROOMS ARE COMMITTING TO COVER A CRIME FROM BEGINNING TO END.

IF THEY MAKE A DECISION AT THE BEGINNING TO COVER IT THEN THEY COVER IT THROUGH THE TRIAL AND THE PROCESS.

THAT IS A BIG COMMITMENT.

IT CAN BE A LONG PROCESS.

ESPECIALLY IN COOK COUNTY WHERE MURDER TRIALS DRAG ON FOR YEARS.

BUT, IF YOU DO NOT DO THAT, IF THERE IS AN ACQUITTAL, IF A CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED, THEN THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A SUSPECT NEVER ULTIMATELY GET THEIR STORY TOLD EITHER IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE CASE.

>> THAT COULD IMPACT THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE SAID BEFORE IS THAT YOU BELIEVE LOCAL MEDIA RUNS WITH THE POLICE NARRATIVE OF THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO CRIMES.

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT?

THIS WAS A BIG ISSUE THAT CAME UP IN THE McDONALD CASE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BREAKING NEWS REPORTING RELIES HEAVILY ON POLICE FOR THE NARRATIVE.

WE GET THE PRESS REALLY FROM THE POLICE OR WE ATTEND A CONFERENCE AND WE REGURGITATE THE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

THE CPD VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BLACK RESIDENTS.

SO, HOW CAN WE SAY THAT NEW STORYTELLING IS IMPARTIAL IF WE ARE RELYING SO HEAVILY ON AN ANTI-BLACK INSTITUTION?

>> IN THE McDONALD CASE, A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS HAD TO TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR BECAUSE THE POLICE WOULD OFFER A SPOKESPERSON ON THE SCENE AND A LOT OF TIMES MEDIA WOULD RUN WITH THE FACT THAT THEY PROVIDED.

THAT SOMETHING THAT THE NEWS MEDIA HAS BEEN WORKING ON.

CHARLES WHITAKER, YOU HEARD YOUNG PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T WATCH THE NEWS.

HOW TO CHANGE THAT?

>> AGAIN, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS.

IT IS A CRISIS FOR US TO LOSE THIS GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY ARE TURNING OFF AND TUNING OUT THE NEWS.

THAT MEANS THEY ARE NOT HEARING A LOT OF VITAL INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY ARE SO TURNED OFF THE DEPICTIONS OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE SEEING.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO A BETTER JOB.

WE HAVE TO WORK TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.

>> AND LOCAL TV NEWS COVER CRIME IN THE TALK -- THE CONTEXT OF TRENDS?

LIKE YOU SET , THIS WAS A VIOLENT WEEKEND BUT LET'S PUT IT IN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE '90s OR TO THOUSANDS.

CAN THEY MAKE A CHOICE TO COVER IT LIKE THAT?

>> IT HAS TO BE AN INTENTIONAL CHOICE WITH THE RULES AND GUIDELINES AND DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE IN THE MORNING MEETING OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THOSE DECISIONS ARE GOING TO HAVE A LONGER EFFECT.

SOME STATIONS HAVE MADE THAT COMMITMENT.

IT IS A TOUGH CHOICE BECAUSE IT MEANS COMMITTING RESOURCES WHEN YOU FIRST DECIDE TO COVER A CRIME.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT THIS KIND OF COVERAGE HAS ON VICTIMS OF CRIME IN CHICAGO.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY RESOURCES AND WE SIGNED UP FOR BEING ALERT AND IT WENT OFF SO FREQUENTLY THAT WE GOT OVERWHELMED AND I QUICKLY KNEW THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COVER IT.

I WANT AUDIENCES TO KNOW THAT NEWS DIRECTORS MAKE DECISIONS.

THEY ARE DECISIONS BASED ON RESOURCES, TIME, AND YOUR PRIORITIES.

I'M NOT PROUD OF THAT BUT WE NEED TO SAY, WHY DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COVER EVERY SINGLE SHOOTING BUT NOT EVERYTHING ELSE.

WE CAN ASK THOSE THINGS.

>> CLEARLY, THESE THINGS ARE VERY ESSENTIAL FOR VIEWERS AND CONSUMERS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW THESE THINGS.

A VERY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE TO HAVE IT WITH US.

THANK YOU ALL, SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> THE ROLE SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYS IN TELLING STORIES ABOUT CRIMES.

>>> THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIOLENCE MIGHT NOT BE AS CUT AND DRY AS SOME MAKE IT SCENE.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT ASPECT, WE ARE JOINED BY LANCE WILLIAMS RIGHT HERE IN STUDIO FROM NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY.

AND PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY AND DIRECTOR OF THE ETHNOGRAPHY LAB AT STANFORD.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO CHICAGO TONIGHT.

LANCE, YOU ARE AT AND I YOU BUT ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS YOU DO, YOU'RE AN EXPERT WITNESS IN CASES AND SPEAK TO JUDGES ABOUT WHAT IS OR IS NOT GANG-RELATED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT THAT ENTAILS.

>> WHAT IT ENTAILS IS WITH THE NEW FORMATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN POP CULTURE, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT IMMERSED IN THE CULTURE, PARTICULARLY POP-CULTURE, TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN WHAT A TRADITIONAL ELEMENT OF, LET'S SAY, GANG ACTIVITY AND WHAT WE SEE IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS IT RELATES TO POP-CULTURE.

SO, MY JOB IS TO -- IN CASES WHERE THINGS GO LEFT, CRIME AND VIOLENCE POPS UP, IT IS TO HELP THE COURT DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL GANG ACTIVITY AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST INVOLVED IN POP CULTURE.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TWEET OR A SOCIAL MEDIA POST THAT IS POP-CULTURE EXPRESSION VERSUS ONE THAT IS AN OVERT GANG SIGNAL.

>> IN POP CULTURE TODAY, IT IS VERY POPULAR TO IDENTIFY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD AFFILIATIONS THAT MAY HAVE A PARTICULAR NAME AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHO MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED THROWING A PAN SIDES SIMILAR TO WHAT WOULD BE PERCEIVED AS GANG SIGNS.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LANGUAGE IS ASSOCIATED WITH GANG BANGING.

YOU SEE THAT IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND SOCIAL MEDIA POP-CULTURE.

IT'S A POPULAR THING THAT YOUNG PEOPLE DO.

HOWEVER, SOME OF THOSE ELEMENTS ARE FOUND PROMINENTLY IN WHAT WE WOULD CALL TRADITIONAL GANG ACTIVITY .

NEIGHBORHOOD TERRITORY, GANG SYMBOLS, FASHION, DRESS, TATTOOS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE TIED TOGETHER AND MY JOB IS TO HELP TAKE THEM APART YOU CAN TELL ONE FROM THE OTHER.

>> THE IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW IS YOU SPENT ABOUT THREE YEARS WITH A GANG ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO.

I'M SURE YOU LEARNED MANY, MANY THINGS.

WHAT DID HE TEACH ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND VIOLENT CRIME?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SPENDING TIME WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IS INVALUABLE TO THIS CONVERSATION.

I SPENT TIME WITH GUYS, A GANG FROM THE TIME THEY GOT UP TO THE TIME THEY WENT TO BED, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DISCOVERED WHICH SURPRISED ME WAS HOW FAR OF A GAP THERE WAS BETWEEN WHAT WE THINK SOCIAL MEDIA IS DOING FOR VIOLENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND WHAT IT IS ACTUALLY DOING.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STATISTICS, ACTUALLY, IN THE EXACT TIME WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA WAS BEING TAKEN UP BY GANG ASSOCIATED GROUPS, THAT IS A TIME WHEN CHICAGO IS AT SOME OF ITS SAFEST.

SO, ALREADY, THE STATISTICS ARE LEANING AGAINST THIS CONCLUSION THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS DRIVING VIOLENCE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE SEE WHEN WE ARE WITH YOUNG PEOPLE IS JUST HOW MUCH THEY ARE TURNING TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOME OF THESE EXAGGERATED SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES OF VIOLENCE AS A, KIND OF, PERFORMANCE TO GAIN STREAK READ THAT DOES NOT ACTUALLY SPILL INTO THE STREETS.

IT IS THE SAME KIND OF EXAGGERATION THAT ALL OF US DOING SOCIAL MEDIA.

AS A PROFESSOR, ACADEMIC, WE BOAST AND EXAGGERATE ABOUT HOW SMART WE ARE, LIKE CEOs AND ENTREPRENEURS EXAGGERATE ABOUT HOW RICH THEY ARE, ALL OF US ARE TRYING TO GET LIKES AND CLICKS AND SHOW US THAT WE ARE WORTHWHILE.

GET US SOME LOVE.

AND VIOLENT NEIGHBORHOODS, ONE OF THE BEST COMMODITIES YOU CAN BUILD FOR YOURSELF, SOCIAL STATUS.

IT STREAK READ.

A REPUTATION FOR TOUGHNESS.

OF COURSE, THIS IS ONLY ONLINE BUT WHAT WE OFTEN FORGET, AND I THINK IT IS LOST, PARTICULARLY IN MEDIA PORTRAYALS, THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SEEMINGLY OVER VIOLENT POSE, CONTENT, PICTURES, THAT ARE BEING POSTED ONLINE EVERY SINGLE DAY, THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY LEADING TO CRIMES.

>> LANCE, WE HAVE HEARD FROM POLICE OFFICERS THAT SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE BEEFING UP OUR SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING FOR THAT REASON BECAUSE SOMETIMES VIOLENT CRIMES START WITH THE POST AND BRAGGING.

IS THAT WE HAVE SEEN?

ACTUALLY, THERE IS NOT A HUGE CONNECTION.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE COURTS IS I.C.E.

PROSECUTION.

IC INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE TRUMPING UP CHARGES AROUND SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MAY ALERT WITH STREET LIFE.

WE CALL THEM INTERNET GANGSTERS, SO TO SPEAK.

WE TALK ABOUT STUDIO GANGSTERS THAT ARE ONLY TOUGH AND GANG BANGING ONLINE BUT IN ACTUALITY IT IS NOT PLAYING THAT WAY IN THE STREETS.

SO, WHAT I'M SEEING IN THE COURTS IS A HEAVY FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS CONNECTING THEM TO REAL-LIFE VIOLENT EVENTS OR ASSOCIATION -- GANG ASSOCIATION, AND WAYS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST FLIRTING OR GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE REAL WEIGHT OF THE SYSTEM AND MANY OF THEM ARE DESTROYING OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY HAVE FOR A FUTURE GETTING LOCKED UP AND HAVING ALL KINDS OF NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS FROM THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU SAW WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE MIGHT'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN SOME KIND OF ACTIVITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HAS BEEN MONITORED AND IT WAS THE BASIS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMING IN AND TAKING SOME ACTION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SOME OF THE PLACES WHERE I'VE SEEN IT THE MOST ARE ACTUALLY FROM THE PROBATION OFFICERS.

PROBATION OFFICERS FOLLOWING YOUNG MEN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND IN INSTANCES THAT PROBATION OFFICERS THINK THAT THEY ARE ENGAGED IN VIOLENCE THEY ARE RECOMMENDING TO JUDGES TO VIOLATE THESE YOUNG BOYS AND SEND THEM BACK TO JAIL OR BACK TO PRISON.

ON ACCOUNT OF WHAT THEY'VE WRITTEN ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS.

I AM ENGAGED IN A NATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT CURRENTLY NOW ALONGSIDE OTHER DEFENDERS WHERE WE ARE SEEING PEOPLE'S SENTENCES INCREASED.

WE ARE SEEING BALE DENIED OR REVOKED.

WE ARE SEEING ALL KINDS OF INCREASED PENALTIES BASED SOLELY, SOLELY, ON THE APPEARANCES OF A GUN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT IS FAKE OR REAL OR IF THE DEFENDANT IS SHOWING OFF ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THREATS, GANG SIGNS BEING FLASHED FROM A PARK.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ONCE THEY COME IN TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THEY ARE ACTUALLY LEADING TO LONGER SENTENCES THAT, I MEAN, CERTAINLY I AND OTHER FOLKS THINK IS A REAL, KIND OF, INVISIBLE FORM OF INJUSTICE THAT A LOT OF US ARE ONLY BARELY BEGINNING TO SEE.

>> OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF IMPLICATIONS.

FROM WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN, IS IT WORTH THE RESOURCES HERE FOR POLICE OFFICERS TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME MONITORING SOCIAL MEDIA?

IS IT BETTER USED ELSEWHERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RESOURCES NEED TO BE DIRECTED ELSEWHERE.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING, PARTICULARLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS, WE SEE INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE LED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE NO CLUE OF HOW SOCIAL MEDIA OPERATES.

THEY HAVE NO CLUE OF THE DESTRUCTION AND FUNCTION OF THE STREETS.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CULTURE, THE LANGUAGE, THEY ARE MISINTERPRETING A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID, ASSOCIATING ONE INCORRECT THING WITH ANOTHER INCORRECT THING AND THEN IMPLICATIONS FOR THAT, OF COURSE, ARE DEVASTATING FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INVOLVED PERIPHERALLY TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN A PARTICULAR CASE.

>> THIS IS A VERY FASCINATING DISCUSSION.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANKS TO FOR STEWART AND LANCE WILLIAMS.

>>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US AGAIN AND BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR ONGOING COVERAGE ONLINE.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5:30 AND 10:00.

>>> THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON CHICAGO POLICE OVERTIME IS ON TRACK TO BREAK RECORD THIS YEAR.

TALK ABOUT AN EARLY MORNING WAKE-UP CALL.

THE NEWS INVESTIGATES ILLEGAL TRASH PICKUPS BY MULTIPLE LOCAL WASTE HAULERS.

FOR ALL OF THOSE HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CLIFFORD LAW