USA Today ran a front-page story Feb....

USA Today ran a front-page story Feb. 16 reporting that Los Angeles gang members say there is sure to be more rioting if the officers accused of violating the civil rights of Rodney G. King are acquitted. However, the newspaper ended up fining and suspending the writer of the story for what was called an “unethical lapse.”

Some excerpts from the story:

“Non-black gangs are a mob waiting for a spontaneous uprising. During last year’s riots, a greater percentage of Hispanics than blacks were arrested. But some black gangs, which now have a cause, are a scattered army readying for war, an army with plenty of training.

“Stung by criticism that they trashed their own neighborhoods last year, gang-bangers say they’ll do it differently this time. If there’s burning, they’ll do it outside their own neighborhoods, jetting up the long avenues that run north into Koreatown and predominantly white neighborhoods. . . .

“The sad point is that most residents of this well-groomed neighborhood of hard-working people find the idea of a riot abhorrent. But the threat from gangs is so widely understood that most people also regard it as fact.”

The article, accompanied by a front-page photograph of five gang members with their weapons, drew an angry response from readers.

“This type of blatant trash reporting continues to fuel the fires of racism and hatred against African-Americans,” said one letter to the editor.

“I honestly believe that pictures and stories like the ones you are publishing about the gangs in Los Angeles will only fuel the fire and encourage these thugs to resort to rioting and civil disobedience,” said another.

The Washington Post reported Feb. 19 that USA Today suspended and fined the writer of the story because of an “unethical lapse.” The five gang members were assembled by local activist CaShears and were to surrender their weapons under a guns-for-jobs program, a fact not reported in the story, according to the Post.

Three of the gang members called a news conference last week to say they planned to sue USA Today for libel.

Newsweek magazine reported Feb. 15 that music network MTV is preparing a documentary about South-Central.

“Instead of trotting out the usual cops and sociologists, the hourlong program features current and former gang-bangers, as well as their neighbors. Unsurprisingly, the program has no shortage of quick-cutting video montages, pounding music, and, of course, celebrities.

“Local heroes Ice T and director John Singleton are featured prominently. After all, this isn’t ’60 Minutes.’ ”