Is it OK to use the term 'Kia Boys?' Media focus might highlight thrill-ride crime aspect
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Stories about the uptick in Kia and Huyandai car thefts due to a security flaw have dominated Rochester's news landscape — mostly TV — in 2023.
The coverage does fairly mirror the chatter you hear throughout the city from residents concerned about the crime and the highly dangerous joyriding accompanying it.
While reporting for the City On Fire podcast, which examines rising temperatures' effect on public safety, the subject of teenagers stealing cars and driving at excessive speeds, leading to car wrecks, consistently became the topic of discussion.
Episode 3 of the podcast is titled "Kia Boys." During the episode, I spoke with Rochester police officer Moses Robinson and Community Resource Collaborative CEO Anthony Hall. Both men were critical of the media's car theft coverage.
Should we — journalists and others — use the term "Kia Boys?"
"It glorifies their behavior," Hall said. "It's no different from how we talk about gangs. When you publicize it more, it appeals more to individuals who are on the fence."
What is the sensitive term to use in the media for 'Kia Boyz?'
The debate started a conversation between me and the Democrat and Chronicle's Emerging Audiences Editor, Maryann Batlle, as we workshopped headlines and discussed coverage for the audio transcript story featuring Episode 3 of the "City On Fire" podcast.
"We want to focus on the consumer side, too," she said. "What do people need to know to keep their car safe so we can drive down panic and sensationalism and focus more on impact and safety?"
When discussing headlines for a story, keyword search on Google was part of the conversation — it is an important way people find news these days. Regarding teenage auto theft, Kia Boys is a highly searched term, meaning reporters and editors must decide what's best for delivering news to readers versus how those choices affect the community.
"We have to weigh the pros and cons of every headline," Batlle said.
She says editorial decisions have tried to tie coverage to affected people while not pumping fear into the community.
Anthony Hall recalled a recent outing at a breakfast restaurant where television news was flooded with reports of car thefts.
"The image that is presented in the media is that these kids are urban kids, violent, they're social predators," Officer Robinson said. "To the overall good kids, including my grandsons, it puts a negative image on them."
LISTEN: To an episode of the "City on Fire" podcast here below or on your podcast platform of choice — or read the transcript at this article link.
Small number of troublemakers are stealing cars, experts say
Hall has worked with many teenagers caught stealing cars. He says a small group of the city's youth is associated with the activity.
"There's other stuff going on in the community," he said.
The amount of attention that group of adolescents is receiving is substantial. A quick Google search will result in articles and videos examining the national trend that began at the tail end of the pandemic when a viral video exposed the security flaw.
Robinson believes the attention is filling a void for the teenagers.
"You don't just wake up one day and decide, you know what, I'm going to go steal a car," he said. "A lot of time, negative behavior is sending a message that I'm not connected to the community. We need to really ask them, what do you need from us?"
The Democrat and Chronicle is asking those questions and listening.
Please reach out to us with thoughts and story ideas.
The "City on Fire" podcast is a four-part series on rising temperatures' effect on public safety. It's available wherever you get your podcasts.
The Democrat & Chronicle has been investigating the effects of a rapidly heating planet on people who live in our city. Follow along with "City on Fire" as we report the struggle with summer temperatures caused by climate crisis. This is part of the USA TODAY project Perilous Course. Contact D&C journalist Rob Bell at rlbell@gannett.com to be included in a story if you have been affected by climate crisis or heator William Ramsey for general climate impact.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Kia Boyz: Can we use words 'Kia Boys' for social media-linked spree?
