Considering the order of your sources

Research indicates that most people read less than 60% of online news articles that they click on. This means that they miss any important information at the end of the story. In crime and public safety reporting, this often means audiences do not see information and context provide by non-police sources.

Have students choose one of the articles below. Students should rewrite the first paragraph of the article to provide readers a summary of the competing perspectives.

• Philadelphia Inquirer: Philly’s homicide crisis in 2021 featured more guns, more retaliatory shootings, and a decline in arrests and convictions

• The Associated Press: ‘Overwhelmed’: Cops combat violent crime as ranks dwindle