JUNE 2005
STREETVIBES Streetvibes Investigates: Legitimate News Story or Hoax? by Andy Erickson, Greater around town, outing them as conCincinnati Coalition for the artists who “prey on your kind heart.” Homeless, Education Coordinator Paolello first talked to a man named Larry (we don’t learn his last The issue of panhandling has name), who says he just made $24 in long been a controversial one in 90 minutes and once made $50 in 15 Cincinnati. Fueled by simplistic minutes. She asks what he does with assumptions and stereotypes about the money, and he tells her that he the poor, many Cincinnatians dismiss gives it to a diabetic friend in need. panhandlers as con-artists. At best, “But a few minutes earlier,” Paolello panhandlers are seen as reports, “we watched annoyances by the him walk across the wealthier, housed street where…he had a population that visits bottle of booze stashed downtown. The truth is in a bush.” The footage that every panhandler’s shows Larry drinking story is as complex as from a bottle of beer. anyone’s, and each “The same thing panhandler has a happens all across the Andy Erickson different reason for city,” Paolello reports. begging on the street. “Minutes after donating Unfortunately, local Cincinnati money, the recipient will take it to television station WLWT, or Channel fulfill their habit at the local liquor 5, fueled stereotypes about store.” panhandlers when they aired a This is where the report simplistic and sensationalistic news leaves Larry. Paolello’s point is story in early May called “Homeless somewhat vague, so we’re forced to or Hoax?” In this segment, reporter assume what she’s getting at. I Sheree Paolello followed panhandlers assume she meant to convey that: (1)
Larry spends all of his money on booze, (2) Larry does not have a diabetic friend that he gives his money to, (3) most, if not all, panhandlers spend most, if not all, of their money on booze, and (4) by drinking from a bottle of beer, Larry is a bad person. Paolello’s attempt to dismiss Larry’s claim that he gives his money to a diabetic friend is based on the fact that he was filmed drinking from a bottle of beer. This, of course, is illogical. Larry can drink beer while panhandling and still give some of his money to his diabetic friend. Paolello makes a strong point of connecting panhandlers with liquor, but doesn’t explain why this connection is important. I think she’s possibly trying to suggest that they are misusing the donations – that they should be purchasing something more wholesome with their money. Some of the people she filmed might have an alcohol addiction, and therefore might actually physically need liquor. Sure, treatment would be better for them, but some people aren’t ready for
treatment, can’t get into treatment right now, don’t know how to get into treatment, or don’t know they have a problem. I don’t think that alcoholics are necessarily bad people because they are alcoholics. I also don’t assume that panhandlers will use every cent I give them to purchase whole-grain bread and mittens. If people are surprised that some panhandlers use part of their earnings to purchase liquor, then they are naïve – as are people who believe that panhandlers only spend their money on liquor. Paolello also encounters Caroldeen Cobb, a woman who lives in an apartment, but who is seen panhandling with a sign that suggests she is homeless. Later, Paolello shows up at Cobb’s apartment, where she thrusts her finger at Cobb’s chest and accuses her of operating something that “seems kind of like a scam.”
Hoax... cont. on page 2
International Street Newspaper Conference Held in Buenos Aires conference was an effort to address the growth and future of street papers around the world so the movement can stabilize and continue to grow. There needs to be a real and truthful picture of the world we all live in and through this, promote international understanding and a voice and hope for the worlds displaced and poor. The media plays an important role in these conditions. Street newspapers provide a distinctive and independent voice for issues that are usually ignored or distasteful for mainstream, corporate media outlets.
One of the major accomplishments of the INSP was the recent unveiling of the Street News Service – a web-based news wire with stories and news specifically for international street papers. Members can go to the INSP website (www.streetpapers.org) and download photos and stories specific to the street paper movement and the voice of the poor. The website receives, on average, 14,000 hits a month.
Conference... Cont. on Page 8
Rooftop view of Buenos Aires Report and photos by Jimmy Heath I’ve recently returned from a conference and a bit of a vacation in the South American country of Argentina in the capitol of Buenos Aires. The conference was the annual gathering of the International Network of Street Papers (INSP), a 10 year-old organization that has grown to include 85 international street newspapers, from 27 countries, including Cincinnati, Ohio’s own Streetvibes.
Representatives from these papers met, networked and shared meals together in the El Centro neighborhood, right in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires. The conference was hosted by Hechos En Buenos, the Buenos Aires street newspaper. The conference was an attempt to unify the world wide street paper movement and to create a pool of resources for this unique media. Most streetpapers are struggling, not only financially but also politically, mostly because of the outspoken nature of the movement. The Busy Buenos Aires street scene
Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless