Inaccurate Word Choice

It's always important to use the right word. Using the wrong word can often paint pictures of people that aren't entirely true.

In the example above, we see a suspect identified as a bandit. According to Merriam Webster's, a bandit is a criminal who attacks and steals from travelers and who is often a member of a group of criminals. 

The story states that the suspect, Jeffery A. Santucci, was charged with armed robbery, theft and unlawful use of a weapon while robbing a gas station in the town of Frankfort. 

It is incorrect to call Santucci a bandit. First, he did not steal from a group of travelers; a gas station is a fixed established beside a road that sells gasoline, oil and other products. Second, Santucci did not attack the gas station attendants. According to the story, he held the attendants at gun point but did not physically harm them in any way. Finally, we do not know that Santucci acted on behalf of a larger group of criminals. We only know that he acted alone. 

Calling Santucci a bandit paints an inaccurate picture of the crime. The reporter should change the use of bandit in their story to robber in order to match the crime Santucci committed in reality.

The full article for this story can be found on Page 9 in the Nov. 22 issue of Joliet's Herald News.