By Leo E. Laurence, J.D.; Member: SPJ National Committee on Diversity and Latino Journalists of California; editor, San Diego News Service. E-mail: leopowerhere@msn.com

While traveling around the country, I’ve noticed that some TV news shows are very heavy with police coverage. The BREAKING NEWS screen usually simply means that the station’s chopper is over yet another high-speed chase on a freeway, or something similar.

If police stories were eliminated from many of the local TV news shows here, a half-hour program might be reduced to about ten minutes.

That could be the result of budget cuts in the newsroom, or to bolster the entertainment value of the news show. Many of the better, scripted, prime-time shows are being replaced with low-budget, reality shows on the networks.

“We see far fewer TV news crews in the barrio now, and that hurts the community’s development,” warns Roberto Araiza, a Latino businessman here who wants to see more minority stories on local TV news shows.

Unfortunately, some minority community leaders believe more reliance on police news in TV hurts the public image of their people. Police operations typically involve racial minorities, and visually dramatic TV news coverage reinforces some stereotypes, they believe.

Having news staff from diverse communities opens up more opportunities and news sources to any newsroom. Reporters and photojournalists who live in the barrio, for example, know what’s going on there and who is making news.

Contact Leo Laurence at leopowerhere@msn.com