Editorial Commentators |
In the bustling city of Denver, an anonymous social media account called DoBetterDNVR has been making waves. With over 144,000 followers on Instagram and Twitter, the account is known for its controversial videos and content depicting problematic behaviour on Denver metro streets.
Many Coloradans appreciate DoBetterDNVR's exposure of lawless behaviour and support for "tough-love solutions" that discourage it. The account has even caught the attention of city officials, yet the identity of its administrator remains a mystery. According to a report by The Denver Post, the account is run anonymously and claims to be a "collective" or "citizen journalist" with thousands of contributors, rather than a single identifiable person.
However, DoBetterDNVR has been under criticism for investigating its contributors and content, sometimes containing conjecture, rumour, and outright misinformation. Last year, the account claimed Denver police were too busy to back up Denver firefighters who were forced to engage with Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members at two apartment buildings. This claim was not corrected or retracted by DoBetterDNVR, sparking concerns about the account's commitment to accuracy.
Journalists, on the other hand, stand by their work by putting their name, reputation, and job on the line with every article. They try to capture the whole story, provide sources, and double-check their facts, issuing corrections when found to be wrong. Reporters avoid giving their opinion, unlike columnists.
If DoBetterDNVR wants to be considered a journalist, it must strive for objectivity instead of providing a single viewpoint on crime, vagrancy, and associated public policies. It is not required to meet journalistic standards of objectivity, accuracy, and transparency, but doing so would lend credibility to its content.
Shelly Bradbury, a crime reporter, wrote an article about DoBetterDNVR, highlighting the account's impact on the community and the debate it has sparked over journalistic standards. The account's anonymity has drawn attention from local officials and media but remains intact to avoid revealing who is behind it.
Meanwhile, a city investigation found that firefighters did not have such interactions with gang members and received support from the Denver police in their operations. Some contributors to DoBetterDNVR were found through requests to city agencies under the Colorado Open Records Act and confirmed they had contributed in the past.
As the debate continues, DoBetterDNVR can continue to be an anonymous site for videos of people behaving badly accompanied by opinion, humor, and semi-accurate information. However, calls for transparency and adherence to journalistic principles are growing louder, as the account's influence in the community and potential for misinformation continue to be a concern.
[1] The Denver Post, "Anonymous account DoBetterDNVR posts controversial videos of Denver streets, but who's behind it?" (2021, March 24). Retrieved from https://www.denverpost.com/2021/03/24/anonymous-account-dobetterdnvr-posts-controversial-videos-of-denver-streets-but-whos-behind-it/
- In the midst of the discussion about DoBetterDNVR's journalistic approach, Shelly Bradbury, a crime reporter, wrote an article focusing on the account's community impact and the ensuing debate over journalistic standards.
- Despite the anonymity surrounding DoBetterDNVR, its influence in the community and potential for spreading misinformation continue to raise concerns, with calls for transparency and adherence to journalistic principles growing increasingly louder.
- Remaining anonymous to avoid revealing its administrator, DoBetterDNVR can continue to post videos of problematic behavior on Denver streets, incorporating opinions, humor, and sometimes semi-accurate information along with it.
- While DoBetterDNVR is not required to meet journalistic standards of objectivity, accuracy, and transparency, striving for these principles could lend credibility to its content and further enable it to be considered a legitimate journalistic source.
