I've been enthralled with the Post's series on the 2001 murder of Chandra Levy, which started Sunday. I'm not exactly sure why I'm so fascinated by it, but I guess it comes down to the whole murder mystery thing -- so many questions and no answers, and the basic frustration of all the leads and opportunities that were botched by the police and detectives running the case (which is the focus of of the first chapter.) In the "Reporters' Notebook," one of the writers says, "The case showcases everything that is wrong with pack journalism and 24-7 cable news stations," which really struck a chord with me. I get the sense that the 24-hour news stations will put almost anything on the air to fill time and perk interest, no matter the relevance or complete accuracy. Everyone wants to have the story (whatever that means) first -- just get something on the air -- before one's competitors, combined with the pack-mentality reasoning that if X station reported it, then we can report it as true, too.
Back to the articles, the really really frustrating thing about it is the decision to spread the story out over 12 days; Actually, make that 13, since the Epilogue will be added as well. In theory that would be really cool, except that each article is waaaaay too short that I'm left feeling unsatisfied after each one. And I won't be done with the whole thing until july 27th... kinda ridic.
On a side note, I also have a fascination with Rock Creek Park in general. I felt like finally learning how to drive on the RC parkway and what the exits are this year was a major right of passage in my life as a DC-er. I'll never go in the park by myself, though, that's for sure.
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