Protecting victims’ identities in press coverage of child victimization

Abstract

When the names of child victims and other identifying information appear in the media it can exacerbate trauma, complicate recovery, discourage future disclosures and inhibit cooperation with authorities for the children involved. In this study, we evaluated the amount of identifying information available in a systematic sample of 561 newspaper articles about non-fatal child victimizations published from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2004. Identifying information about the victim (e.g. name of the child’s street, school or a family member’s full name) was published in 51 percent of articles covering child victimizations. For cases of sexual assault, victim identifiers were most likely to be included when the alleged offender was related to the victim or was a high-profile community member. Based on these findings, we examine the arguments for and against more restrictive policies regarding identifying information, and suggest some guidelines that would provide additional protections for child victims.

The Disclosure Experiences of Male Child Sexual Abuse Survivors

“…Autobiographies, and television shows had the most impact on the participants and often even served as motivators to disclosure. In recent years slightly more attention has been given in the literature to the topic of media and CSA, however for the time being, the research generally focuses on prevention of CSA through the media (Self-Brown, et al, 2008), addresses how the media covers infamous CSA scandals (Mancini, & Shields, 2014), or tackles victims' confidentiality during media coverage (Jones, Finkelhor, & Beckwith, 2010). Hunter (2009) however did highlight that the disclosure of the experience of public figures, such as Oprah Winfrey, allowed other victims to feel comfortable admitting that their CSA had impacted them as well.…”

Tratamiento informativo de los delitos cometidos por menores

“…Un estudio realizado por Jones, Finkelhor, & Beckwith (2010: 347-367) sobre la protección de la identidad que brindaban los medios de comunicación en casos de menores de edad que habían sido víctimas de la delincuencia concluyó que del total de 561 artículos pertenecientes a 36 diarios estadounidenses difundidos durante el 1 de enero del 2003 al 31 de diciembre del 2014, en el 51% de los artículos revisados, se incluyó al menos un tipo de información de identificación sobre el niño. Para llegar a esta conclusión Jones et al, (2010) cruzaron y consideraron posibles identificadores de la víctima: 1) el nombre de la víctima; 2) el nombre de la calle o la dirección de la víctima; 3) el nombre de la escuela, iglesia la guardería del niño; 4) el nombre completo de cualquier pariente no infractor; o 5) el nombre completo de un padre o familiar directo del infractor. En el referido estudio en solo el 9% se mencionaba el nombre del menor víctima, sin embargo se ofrecían otros indicios lo suficientemente razonables para que el agraviado sea reconocido dentro de su entorno o círculo social.…”

“…Esto teniendo en consideración que el alcance y difusión de las noticias de la web en la actualidad es mucho mayor que la de los medios impresos. La presente investigación igualmente aporta mucho en el sentido de que corrobora los estudios realizados por los investigadores Jones, Finkelhor, & Beckwith (2010) en, EE.UU., Ciboci, Kanizaj, & Labas (2013) Pero a diferencia de Jones, Finkelhor & Beckwith, cuyo estudio se centró en el caso de menores que eran víctimas, esta investigación se enfocó en el tema de menores que eran autores de delitos, lo cual resulta muy relevante. Esto es, si se realiza una comparación en su conjunto los tres diarios analizados brindan información que permite identificar a los menores de edad involucrados en delitos en un 22%, mientras que el caso de Jones, Finkelhor & Beckwith sus resultaron fueron el 51% de información relevante para identificar a los menores víctimas de delitos, lo cual permite realizar una comparación y determinar que el tratamiento informativo difiere en ambos casos.…”

Ethical consideration in the reportage of sexual abuse of children: A review of selected Nigerian newspapers

“…In as much as it is important journalists report accurately accounts of news involving sexual assault on minors, including information such as the names and addresses of the victims will not be of significance to the readers, rather, it brings the victims to limelight which may further expose them to ridicule, bullying and more abuse [14]. Jones, Finkelhor and Beckwith [15] state that media publicity is more likely to have a negative effect on child abuse victims as children have the capacity for feelings of indignity and humiliation as early as 3 or 4 years old and studies have shown that by the age of 10, children can feel ashamed just by being presumptuous that others around them are judging them negatively [16], [17]. Experts in the field of child abuse observe that children may be more likely to develop shame in the aftermath of harrowing experiences because of their still developing self-perception [18], hence the need for some form of self-censorship by journalists and media organisations especially with information that identifies the victims of sexual assaults directly; summed up as part of ethical guidelines for journalists to follow while covering cases of sexual abuse of children.…”