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Article: How identifying rape victim affects readers' perceptions.
- Article from:
- Newspaper Research Journal
- Article date:
- March 22, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Journalists face a dilemma in reporting on rape. Public interest demands full coverage of crime, punishment and the criminal-justice system, but reporting certain aspects of rape may further traumatize rape victims. In particular, rape victims seem to object to the reporting of their names. Victims, counselors and others believe publication of victims' names will result in public humiliation, ostracism and even retaliation.
Many journalists share victims' belief. Yet they also are troubled by the idea of omitting information from stories - particularly when that information would be included in stories of crimes other than rape. Even when journalists consider ...