Gang Rape Story Lacked Balance

Gang Rape Story Lacked Balance. The story soon came to the Times' list e-mail, but not just because the startling facts of the crime in question. "Vicious Assault Shakes Texas town, which was announced on Tuesday announced a series of rapes has 18 boys and men in the 11 year old girl in East Texas city of Cleveland.

The viral distribution of the story was, at least in part, due to the intense anger, it has inspired readers found this victim pilloried room.

My assessment is that the scandal is understandable. The story is a terrible crime, but addressed concerns about offenders ruined my life to recognize the obvious: the concern for the victim.

Although the story seems to focus on the community's response to crime, it is not enough simply to note that the community is more concerned about boys and men involved - that this story seems to be doing. If indeed it is the only feelings that exist in this society - and I find it very difficult to believe - it is important to report on this visit and by the business community expressed or community members different that will at least take and not ignore the situation of the girl in question.

Consider the information:

History of James C. McKinley Jr. reported that residents of the town has noticed the girl dressed "older than his age, wore makeup and fashion" more appropriate to a woman in her 20s "and hung out with older boys in the court.

The story also quoted one resident said: "? Where was her mother What was his mother thought"

Referring to some of the defendants in the case, was the same resident was quoted as saying, "These boys have to live with the rest of their lives."

The fourth paragraph of the story adopted the basic themes of the story:

The case has shocked this East Texas community to its core and left many residents in the working class neighborhood where the attack took place with questions unanswered. Among them, if the allegations are true, how could their young men were trained in such an action?

These elements, creating the impression of concern for workers and the impression of a provocative victim has led many readers to interpret the framework of the story: he had come.

The Times, in response to a wave of complaints, issued a statement Wednesday saying: "Nothing in our history was in no way intended to suggest that the victim was to blame. Comments from neighbors of the girl, who told us in history, seemed to reflect concerns about what they saw as a lack of control that may have left him at risk. "

The statement continues: "As residents of" references to the accused having to "live with it for the rest of their lives, are views that we find in our reports. There are the reactions of our reporter, but the reactions of disbelief for the common people on the news of a massive assault on a defense of 11 years. "

Philip Corbett, standards editor at The Times reported earlier today that the story focuses on the reaction and the local community that he should not blame the victim. He added, "I do not think in retrospect we could have done more to provide more context to make it clear."

The Associated Press discussed the story more easily, I think. It 's also a significant piece of the criminal community believes that a girl teasing and even see some that the girl may have been the culprit in some way. But the AP also quoted someone in the community, saying: "... He has 11 years, was not to happen is a child Someone might say:" What we're doing is wrong. "

The Times, I am told, is working on the follow-up story. I hope you will dive deeper into the subject from the March 8 story missing a critical element in the balance. If the report states that the community of Cleveland, Texas, in general, believe that the 11 year old girl has been guilty of this crime, so that was really weird. But if it turned out to be the case Times of the interview should take care of mental health and legal experts who can provide the background to the story of a young girl brutal sex crime.