So while I’m still working on the review of Andrew Baer’s book, I had to take a moment to post about the front page of today’s Chicago Tribune (Sunday June 7, 2020). I’m kind of wondering if the Tribune meant to mislead people on purpose.

A large photo of a huge group of protestors dominates the top half of the Tribune’s front page. Underneath runs the headline “Thousands flood streets”. Underneath that headline are two smaller headlines: “Madison Street struggles to recover from unrest again” and “Police accountability focus of Union Park rally, march”.

When I first saw the sub-headline about Madison Street, I thought, “oh man. Looting again yesterday?” But no. The article was about the looting from the previous weekend. The “again” in the headline refers to the 1968 riots: Madison Street got hit then and this year too. The article about yesterday’s demonstration states that it was a peaceful march.

So I guess I’m just wondering why the Tribune staff put that sub-headline about Madison Street right where it did. Were they trying to stoke fear about unrest and in so doing prompt people to purchase a copy of the paper? Were they trying cast a shadow of doubt on the Union Park rally?

Just my thoughts as I saw the morning paper during this Fulcrum Year.