In the tragic case of 10-year-old Jackson Georgari, whose lifeless body was discovered in a Kansas City pond, corporate media are spinning a narrative that could make anyone’s head spin. The police are attributing this devastating loss to sleepwalking, which raises more questions than it answers. We should be skeptical of this simplistic explanation—especially when outlets like CNN run with it without digging deeper into the systemic failures at play.

Let’s face it: when a child is found dead so close to home, the immediate reaction should be one of outrage. But mainstream media, like ABC News and NBC, seem hell-bent on wrapping the story in a cozy blanket of tragedy instead of tackling the pressing questions of safety, parenting, and community vigilance. Where are the discussions about kids roaming unsupervised? If we expect parents to keep a close eye, shouldn’t we also demand that media bring these issues into the light?

Meanwhile, right-leaning outlets might choose to focus on parenting choices or neighborhood safety, but why isn’t there a broader dialogue? The state of our communities has many parents terrified. Rather than examining how affordable housing, education, and mental health services impact families, they stick to the surface tragedy—perfect for PR but lacking substance.

In this era where headlines shape public perception, we must demand more than just a headline. Jackson’s story is a wake-up call, not just to parents but to the media that so often fails to challenge the status quo. It’s not just a sad ending; it’s a call to action for all of us.