VOA标准英语2013--Multi, Social Media Play Huge Role in Solving Boston Bombing

 

Multi, Social Media Play Huge Role in Solving Boston Bombing

Millions across the world saw these photos instantly. And this video of the suspects on a surveillance tape from a store across the street from the marathon finish line.

“Today we are enlisting¹ the public’s help in identifying the two suspects,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation² [FBI] special agent Richard DesLauriers.

The FBI photos of suspect 1 and suspect 2, as they were known at the time, were instantaneously tweeted and re-tweeted. Facebooked and facebook shared. This is the world we live in now. Immediate³ access. Active citizen involvement.

“This is a very serious situation we are dealing⁴ with. We would appreciate your cooperation," said Massachusetts State Police Col. Tim Alben.

So thousands of marathon spectators flipped⁵ through their cell phone photos and videos - to see if they could match the suspects. They re-posted the FBI website address. But the social media aspect had a downside - when the public made a mismatch and targeted an innocent bystander. FBI special agent in charge Richard DesLauriers warned against rash judgments⁶.

“Other photos should not be deemed credible⁷, and they unnecessarily divert the public’s attention in the wrong direction and create undue⁸ work for vital law enforcement resources,” he said.

Eventually police got a clearer look at both suspects - brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. And, through Tamerlan's YouTube page, discovered his support of jihad or Islamic holy war. 

In the end, it was not a printed news release, phone calls or a news conference that announced the capture of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. It was a twitter message posted by the Boston Police Department.

It said "Captured! The search is done. The terror is over. And justice has won."

VOA found out through a police two-way radio on the scene in Watertown. Boston's mayor sat in a police cruiser, grabbed the radio and addressed the officers saying, "We got him! Congratulations and Thank you".

Sean Mussenden teaches digital journalism⁹ at the University of Maryland. He says this is the new normal for investigations¹⁰.

“It’s also the present, the modern media landscape in which we live. The audience is a huge active participant in these sorts of stories,” he said.

From surveillance cameras to cellphones to facebook to twitter to YouTube - the Boston bombing investigation relied on it all. But in the end, it was the public and their social connections that helped police crack the suspects' identities. 

1 enlisting   

v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的现在分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）

参考例句：

• He thought about enlisting-about the Spanish legion-about a profession. 他想去打仗，想参加西班牙军团，想找个职业。 来自辞典例句
• They are not enlisting men over thirty-five. 他们不召超过35岁的人入伍。 来自辞典例句

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

5 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

6 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

7 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

8 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

9 journalism   

n.新闻工作，报业

参考例句：

• He's a teacher but he does some journalism on the side.他是教师，可还兼职做一些新闻工作。
• He had an aptitude for journalism.他有从事新闻工作的才能。

10 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。