jym@mica.berkeley.edu (Jym Dyer) (05/06/91)
[Distributed by FAIR at The New York Times & NBC, 4/19/91]
Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
130 W. 25th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-633-6700
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 19, 1991
CONTACTS:
Tiffany Devitt
Steve Rhodes
Rachel Burd
FAIR CALLS FOR PUBLIC RESPONSE AGAINST NAMING RAPE VICTIMS
Sexual assault is a crime of violence and power. In order to
heal, survivors need to assert control over their lives --
including control over whether their name should be disclosed.
Printing the name and photo of an alleged rape victim does
nothing to end ther stigma associated with sexual assault. What
is needed is coverage that challenges the rape myths held in our
society and includes the survivor's perspective.
Instead of reporting on last week's Senate hearings on violence
against women, or last week's "Take Bank the Night" march near
Columbia University where sexual assault survivors spoke out, or
the financial constrainst current closing rape crisis centers,
the New York Times ran a victim-blaming "profile" (Wed., April
17), describing the Palm Beach woman's skipping school, traffic
tickets, and dating habits.
The Times story disclosing the woman's name relied twelve times
on unnamed sources. The Times said it published her name after
NBC's decision "took the matter of privacy out of [their] hands."
NBC said it aired her name because it had already appeared in the
Globe -- a supermarket tabloid -- which said it did so because
her name had already appeared in a British tabloid. FAIR asks a
simple question: Are the tabloids setting standards for NBC News
and the New York Times?
NBC News president Michael Gartner said he disclosed the woman's
name because "you try to give viewers as many facts as you can
and let them make up their minds." Two months earlier he
suppressed fottage of Iraqi civilian war casualties shot by Jon
Alpert and Maryanne DeLeo.
FAIR is calling on people to express their views on the invasive
rape coverage of the New York Times and NBC News to their
managements. Ethical reporting of violence against women would
include:
- exploration and insight into acquaintance rape, the dominant
form of sexual violence;
- examinations of how police and courts deal with survivors of
sexual assault;
- training at rape crisis centers for journalists who cover the
issue. (Police and medical personnel often receive training.)
FAIR has published material on coverage of sexual assault; its
spokespersons are available for press interviews.
Source: NY Transfer News Service 718-448-2358, 718-448-2683rivero@dev8a.mdcbbs.com (05/09/91)
In article <JYM.91May5170546@remarque.berkeley.edu>, jym@mica.berkeley.edu (Jym Dyer) writes: > > FAIR CALLS FOR PUBLIC RESPONSE AGAINST NAMING RAPE VICTIMS > > The Times story disclosing the woman's name relied twelve times > on unnamed sources. The Times said it published her name after > NBC's decision "took the matter of privacy out of [their] hands." > NBC said it aired her name because it had already appeared in the > Globe -- a supermarket tabloid -- which said it did so because > her name had already appeared in a British tabloid. FAIR asks a > simple question: Are the tabloids setting standards for NBC News > and the New York Times? > I don't believe that the past activities of either alleged victim or alleged rapist should be broadcast to the world. It jeapordizes the possability of a fair trial. On the other hand, if you are going to publicise the name of either party, you should publicise them both, or withold both. Until the trial is OVER and a guilty verdict delivered, publishing the name of the suspect does as much damage as publishing the name of the victim. Fair is, after all, fair. Mike