Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!aero-c!nadel From: jym@mica.berkeley.edu (Jym Dyer) Newsgroups: soc.feminism Subject: FAIR Statement on Naming Rape Survivors Message-ID: Date: 6 May 91 01:05:46 GMT Sender: root@agate.berkeley.edu (Charlie Root) Organization: Berserkeley Lines: 64 Approved: nadel@aerospace.aero.org Originator: nadel@aerospace.aero.org [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, 718-448-2683