“On June 9, a dead body was found in a river in Des Moines River, Iowa. It was identified to be Kathlynn Shepard, a 15 year old girl who was kidnapped by a convicted sex offender.
“Although ABC News did not include an obscene or scantily clad photo of the victim, there was a huge undated photo of Kathlynn seen in the write-up.
“Several news reports both abroad and in the country have issued similar reports, including photos of victims and mostly suspects. However, I don’t think it was ethical to post a picture of a minor, especially online where information is more open and accessible. Even if the crime story is a very interesting case, compared from the usual reports we hear and read, journalists should essentially be able to recognize the right to dignity of victims, especially if they are killed.
“Not only was it inappropriate to post Kathlynn’s picture but publishing her name was clearly unethical, regardless of the consent of the family to post such. According to the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, a journalist ought to “exercise caution in publishing names of minors and women involved in criminal cases so that they may not unjustly lose their standing in society.” The writer should have just created a pseudonym for the victim or described her as a “15 year old girl” and not published her photo. More than getting a good story, respect for the victims should be more prioritized. It shouldn’t even be debated on; it’s just plain common sense.
“abcnews.go.com/US/body-found-river-identified-missing-iowa-girl-kathlynn”. Posted by Mischa
On the GMA news network headline: “CBCP readies for RH battle before SC, Villegas vows fight for church beliefs”
At gmanetwork.com/news/nation/cbcp-readies-for-rh-battle-before-sc-villegas-vows-fight-for-church-beliefs
“Today, July 9, major online news portals headline the RH “showdown” that will be finally held in the Supreme Court, deciding if ever the long overdue passing of the long-time shelfed bill will finally turn into one of this country’s laws. I have read two other news articles which also report said RH showdown (Inquirer.net’s and Rappler’s). What struck me most is the differences in the way each headline was written. Inquirer has “Showdown on RH law” while Rappler has “RH law showdown moves to SC”. Evidently so, GMA News’s report, with just its chosen title, already puts a bias on its news story, only pertaining to the implications of the CBCP regarding today’s RH fuss.
“That in the Journalist’s Code of Ethics, aptly first in the list of eleven main guidelines is it mentioned that the journalist “shall scrupulously report and interpret the news, taking care not to suppress essential face or to distort the truth by omission or improper emphasis”. In Inquirer’s and Rappler’s report, they each present other parties involved in said RH showdown, while GMA News only puts importance on what the CBCP comments on the presentation of the RH bill to the SC. This becomes of disservice to the reader such that other important details about the RH showdown, the pro- and anti-RH parties that will also voice out their own arguments, are being left out just to, I suppose, create some CBCP-related controversy once again.” Posted by Awarewolf.
