Peddling Junk Crime Rankings, the Failure of Local Media and Why It Matters

{Fountain Park (left) and Columbus Square (right) in blue - "neighborhoods" used in crime ranking in red}

"Two St. Louis neighborhoods among 'most dangerous' " states the KSDK.com headline. Their Twitter account used the headline, linked to the story and asked followers, "Do you agree?" The site's first comment on the story began, "These communities SHOULD feel shame..." The story totaled just 108 words, just passing along a little danger ranking for you. So what's wrong with the story? A couple things.

First, the whole neighborhood crime stats ranking game is a play for page clicks and not for information or a better understanding of our communities. Also on the site of the organization responsible for these rankings: Most Dangerous Cities in America, America's Best Public Schools, and Safest Cities in America. For $88 you can order an "instant, objective" "complete risk profile" for your home address. So there's that.