Are news staffers allowed to show sensitivity for victims of crime?
A. The Times-Union as a general rule does not publish names of sexual assault victims, nor identify people who might be in danger if they were identified in the newspaper. Al’s advice: • It is not a good idea to offer a reporter free tickets or even a free meal. • Reporters are not allowed to profit from the information they obtain. • Responsible reporters will not publish names of certain victims of crime. • If you believe a reporter has violated his/her code of ethics, point it out to them. • If you get nowhere complaining to the reporter, contact his/her immediate supervisor and ask that any mistakes be corrected. Al Rothstein is a media trainer and consultant with Al Rothstein Media Services, Inc. For information, call (800) 453-6352, mediabrain@rothsteinmedia.com. Visit our web site at www.rothsteinmedia.com.
