CNN's Steubenville Coverage Focuses On Rapists, Not Victim

[alsame]

CNN's Steubenville Coverage Focuses On Effect Rape Trial Will Have On Rapists, Not Victim

CNN's coverage of the verdict in the Steubenville rape case appeared to be curiously weighted on Sunday, focusing on the effect the guilty verdict would have on the lives of the now-convicted rapists and their families, rather than that of the victim and her family.

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And yet, the effects of the rape on the victim seemed to be an afterthought: "It was incredibly emotional, it was difficult for anyone in there to watch those boys break down," Harlow said. "[It was] also difficult, of course, for the victim's family."

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The Sunday afternoon segment was hardly the first time CNN had fumbled its coverage of the case. Earlier on Sunday, anchor Candy Crowley expressed her deepest sympathies for Mays and Richmond.

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The slant of the day's coverage was revealing in two capacities. First, CNN appears to have bet on the emotions of those it could show on camera -- for obvious reasons, the victim's identity has been protects, and the victim's family was not shown weeping in court. Networks know that people crying make for great TV. Secondly, it's telling that this tone continued over multiple segments, despite a cadre of tweets and blog posts deriding the network's earlier coverage.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kia-makarechi/cnn-steubenville-coverage_b_2896948.html?utm_hp_ref=steubenville-rape

[snooper2]

1. I'll say this..

since the boys names are public and the most information is known about them, it's natural that lazy media whores would spend more time on the POS rapists.

If they(CNN) were responsible their names would be a blurb into a larger topic of teen assault in America.

[alp227]

24. The thing with naming criminals

is that the extensive focus on the criminal will, sadly, encourage copycats. In covering crime, where is the line crossed from public service to sensationalist infotainment?

[Warpy]

2. I can imagine

"Nice boys...good families...bright futures...blah blah blah"

It's also hard to focus on a victim who is underage and whose identity has been kept as quiet as possible. However, yes, this sort of coverage that eradicates the victim of serious crime really needs to stop.

I'm glad these little thugs will be off the street for a while, long enough to grow up a little and realize the planet doesn't revolve around their dicks.

I just hope the girl they brutalized can find some peace. She did nothing wrong. They did. You'd just never know it by the ridiculous type of news media we're stuck with.

[hrmjustin]

5. Well put!

[kdmorris]

6. Hear, hear!

I was going to reply to the OP, but you said it so much better, so I figured I'd just say "^^this"

[siligut]

23. ". . . realize the planet doesn't revolve around their dicks."

I agree with your post wholeheartedly, but that line made me laugh.

[SoCalDem]

28. I too am GLAD their names & faces are known

and hopefully the girl will be able to get some peace now that they have been publicly shamed and will do some time in a place they never wanted to be..locked up...

For far too many legal encounters like this, the victim gets raked over the coals and every detail of THEIR lives is laid bare. This judge seems to have cut to the core issue.. punish the perpetrators.

These "boys" may not realize yet just how lucky they are... Had they been a bit older they might be spending a LOT more time locked up.

[Recursion]

3. Since they're not allowed to identify the victim, that's kind of a given, no? (nt)

[Brickbat]

4. I agree that part of it may be focusing on the perps in an effort to protect the victim.

Still, it was pretty bad.

[chollybocker]

7. The focus SHOULD be on the rapists.

The "victim" (i.e., WOMAN) reserves the right to be as anonymous as she chooses to be.

The problem is when the media ignores the larger story about all the RAPING going on, and instead tries to humanize and singularize the RAPE, as instructed by the Men In Charge.

[customerserviceguy]

14. Agreed

I want every boy out there who thinks that a young woman can be treated like dirt with impunity looks at those snot-nosed little bastards and imagines himself in their position right now.

This is a damned good "teachable moment" for parents to take advantage of with their sons.

[Whisp]

21. CNN is sort of agreeing with that one rapist that said: I'm sorry those photos were seen.

He had no remorse for the crime, but for being caught.

I get that same feeling from what CNN is saying.

''O, what a shame! Young mens' lives destroyed.''

It's astounding. Maybe this will show some people how much of a 'rape culture' we really are in when the newscasters take a subliminal role of support for the rapists.

[alp227]

25. Sadly CNN even found a WOMAN to read its framing.

Poppy Harlow is a tool.

[Posteritatis]

8. I shudder to think of what would happen to the victim if CNN focused on her instead. (nt)

[roxy1234]

22. Oh the outrage

You would get the same reaction, how come CNN is focusing on the victim, they are so sexist and if they devoted little coverage of one of both side, people would have said that they are trying to hide the whole thing, it is damn if you do, damn if you dont. I say leave the victim alone, she has suffered enough just going through this trial and for the boys now will have their lives destroyed for making 1 mistake

[Posteritatis]

27. Oh, I totally agree she should be left alone

If they wanted to turn the spotlight her way - like Fox did today, 'accidentally' naming her on air - the combination of vengeful football droids, the internet as a whole, and MRA hordes all over the place would probably make emigrating to the moon her best choice for safety. Ugh.

[tularetom]

9. It wouldn't have been difficult for me to watch those assholes weeping crocodile tears

They aren't crying because they're sorry for what they did. They're just sorry they got caught.

But I have to ask, are you at all surprised that CNN takes this approach. To analyze the situation in the depth it deserves is hard work, some might even say it involves journalism, and unfortunately CNN is just not up to journalism. So they just focus on the superficial aspects of the case, namely two douchebags crying in court like little girls.

Fuck 'em. And fuck CNN too.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. They were tried as juveniles, right?

if you ask me, they got off way too easy.

[arely staircase]

12. yes

and yes

[truebrit71]

18. Yup. Nowhere near close enough to justice in this case.

[arely staircase]

11. they don't know who the victim is

or at least are respecting her privacy.

edited to say wtf is this about?

"Candy Crowley expressed her deepest sympathies for Mays and Richmond."

wtf?

[niyad]

13. crowley "expressed her deepest sympathies for mays and richmond?? she expressed her deepest

sympathies for the RAPISTS? what in the hell is wrong with her? the very last subatomic particle of respect I ever had for her has now gone forever.

[Laurian]

15. You don't have to identify the victim. Just don't sympathize

with the rapists. One does not have to be contingent upon the other!

[redqueen]

16. K&R

[geek tragedy]

17. I can see a positive side to highlighting how their lives have been ruined: deterrence.

It would be a lot better if the message were also sent that society hates you if you're a rapist, but ruining the lives of these bastards is a good start. Maybe somewhere some would-be rapist will change his ways.

[davidn3600]

19. Could very easily have the opposite effect

People could start blaming the victim for ruining the lives of the rapists.

In this town that worships football and athletes....it's very possible and probably likely that will happen.

[geek tragedy]

20. Good point. There's going to be a severe backlash amongst

the practictioners (male and female) of rape culture regardless, but educating them is necessary rather than letting them pity those who acted according to the rape culture ethos.

[historylovr]

26. Sorry, those little twits deserve no sympathy.

CNN is pathetic.