*SIGH*

Can I just say that ...

... if journalists are confused or angry about why folks would be frustrated enough to strike out at us during violent demonstrations, then you probably haven't been paying enough attention or doing a good enough job telling their stories.

. @Chancelloriate asked what local media can do to better tell the stories of those demonstrating, so ... a thread of ideas I had will working on tomorrow's @KCURUpToDate.

Don't wait until we reach a boiling point to tell the stories of black and brown people — especially stories that aren't crime-related.

Hire people from diverse backgrounds and identities, and not just as interns and reporters and producers. You need their perspectives especially in editorial, management and director positions. Hire them even if their resumes may not be as impressive.

Tell as many stories that originate from community centers and schools and barbershops and liquor stores and front porches in disadvantaged neighborhoods as you do stories that begin in council chambers.

When a story comes out of City Hall (or wherever), don't only report what "officials" say. Tell us how it will affect the disadvantaged and then ask those people what they think about that and why.

Remember that your job is to elevate the voice of the underprivileged in your community and to "punch up" with your criticism, not the other way around.

Be useful to black and brown people in your community and help them solve their problems — not the problems you think they have, but they ones they've told you they have.

Miss me with this self-reverential, high horse, "our community" bullshit. Yes, we are doing our part to make democracy work, but the nature of radio and digital and TV news means we too often over-promise and under-deliver. Be real with yourself about that.

I'm hungry for more ideas, principles and whatnot for how to improve local news coverage, so share them with me. There's a lot of room for improvement.