Comment on Why do media always specify a car's model in news stories?

cattywampas@lemmy.world ⁨23⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

• YoFrodo@lemmy.world ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  Also details make a story. Otherwise it might be something like: “This guy hit someone with a car. End of story”

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• fargeol@lemmy.world ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  Before searching, I didn’t know a Toyota Landcruiser was a 4x4 SUV, which is the relevant piece of information in this case.

  I used this example because it was the one that made me wonder why the car’s brand is always specified but I hear that nearly everywhere: “The killer drove his Ford Puma to the victim’s house…”, “they fled the robbery in a Pontiac Firebird” (I invented these ones).

  The only other case of brands or models being mentioned that I can think of are planes, rockets and weapons which are not common objects everyone will buy in their life.

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  • cattywampas@lemmy.world ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    But I did know that. So do many others. So when a news story mentions that someone was hit by a Landcruiser we can immediately differentiate that from a Prius or an F-150.

    You could maybe just say “SUV” but even that has a lot of ambiguity.

    Then add in the fact that the press tends to stick to consistent reporting styles, and when describing vehicles it’s also helpful in situations where the perpetrator is still at large.

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    • fargeol@lemmy.world ⁨22⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

      I have to admit my knowledge of cars is really limited…

      it’s also helpful in situations where the perpetrator is still at large. That’s a good point, and I think it answers my question, thank you!
      It’s as relevant as describing the clothes a criminal is wearing and it tends to stay with stories written years later.

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• Fallibilist@feddit.uk ⁨21⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

  The exact make and model isn’t always strictly relevant. In this particular example it would suffice to just say “large SUV” or similar. Not everyone knows what kind of car a LandCruiser even is.

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  • Seralth@piefed.seralth.com ⁨1⁩ ⁨hour⁩ ago

    Yes but sometimes it is relavent. And it’s safer to have one consistent style of reporting for this sorta things. So when it does matter it’s not accidentally forgotten or over looked.

    It’s a better safe than sorry approach.

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