Iserotope Extras - Issue #45

Hi again! This week, I’m juxtaposing what’s happening in Chicago (horrific) with what’s happening in Juárez (wonderful). Why can one city solve its gun violence problem, while the other one remains intractably stuck? Then, after a beautiful photo of Hawaii, please enjoy articles about journalistic f

A Weekend in Chicago: Where Gunfire Is a Terrifying Norm

Over Memorial Day weekend, 64 people were shot in Chicago. Six people died. All but one victim was African American or Latino. There is so much gun violence in Chicago that one mother is happy her son is in jail. Otherwise, she says, “he was bound to be shot this summer.” This NYT special report dares you to read it in full, shooting after shooting after shooting. If you make it all the way through, you’ll be inspired to do something about it.

Once the World’s Most Dangerous City, Juárez Returns to Life

Meanwhile, 1,500 miles away, an entirely different story is happening in Juárez, Mexico. Just six years ago, Juárez had 3,766 murders, nearly 10 a day. That number has plummeted to 256. This article tells the story of how Juárez, through investing in criminal justice and local government, became safe again. One resident said, “People think someone’s going to come from outside and cure the problem. People think a messiah will come. No. The key to success is to strengthen what’s local.”

The fabulist who changed journalism

Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke won a Pulitzer Prize in 1981 for a story about an 8-year-old heroin addict. Except she made the whole thing up. This article recounts how Ms. Cooke’s article had a lasting negative impact on the perception of journalists as trustworthy. My friend Michele and I like following plagiarists and fabulists like Stephen Glass, Jayson Blair, and Jonah Lehrer. (Shattered Glass, where Hayden Christensen plays Mr. Glass, is a great movie.)

Hamilton

Joe Posnanski, a dad, takes his 14-year-old daughter to see Hamilton. Good things happen.

And that’s it for this issue! Hope you enjoyed. This week, if you have the time, check out this link and email me your thoughts. (It’s Extras, all in one place.) See you next Thursday!