Ethics In Journalism: Talking About What Happened

Ethics in Journalism
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Ethics in Journalism
A person who has been raped or sexually abused suffers a great deal of agony, both physically and emotionally. Talking about what happened to them is often challenging for them because they have to relive the experience every time they talk about it. The worst part is the misconception that the public has towards rape victims. The public often assumes that the victim somehow contributed to being raped and is to be blamed for the act. Questions regarding their dress code and their mental status at the time of the rape are usually hurled at the victims.
The victim’s character is usually put on trial, and they are treated as if they are the ones at fault. I would argue that the victim (the accuser) should not be named based on the various reaction they receive from members of the public. Journalists should respect the accuser’s choice of whether to be named or remain anonymous. The society we live in quickly forgets how heinous rape is and once an individual has been named, they will start judging them based on how they dress or how they behave when around the opposite sex. A journalist should be able to balance between the need to offer the public information and the effect that such information brings to the source of information, in this case, the accuser. Naming an accuser may bring some sort of discomfort to them and unnecessary public attention.
In journalism, the long-ter...