Steubenville rape case goes national

Or blamed the girls parents for not being more aware of what their daughter was doing. I think a lot of parents decide not to go down that road because they see it as a can of worms.

 

Perhaps true, in the pampered East Coast circles you happen to travel in.

 

No, in those circles, it's lacrosse.

 

I find it disturbing that a paper would place a rape case in a different place just because it's a rape case. (Maybe I am reading something into that, but that way it struck me when I read it was that there was somehow something embarrassing or wrong about reporting on rape.)

I would think you report in something regardless of the news value no matter what.

If you want to discuss the news value, that's different.

 

Ohio Ag says it isn't over. He's going after any and everyone who didn't step forward.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/03/18/rape-trial-ended-ohio-city-and-storied-football-program-remain-under/?test=latestnews





"No deals for anyone. Hang 'em all."

 

Excellent point. On a slow, very slow news day, it wouldn't make the front page below the fold. It's a regional story, not a national story. The only national news peg is that it involves a small-town football team from the rust belt. Outside of that, no value to my readership.
It may top the briefs page but that's about it. As for facebook and twitter, big deal.

 

CNN catching flak for its coverage:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/cnn-steubenville-rape-poppy-harlow-144458279.html

 

That's a dumb-shit article. She was observing what was happening in court, and that is what was happening -- the boys' future being determined. They did not dismiss the victim, they discussed her too, but it's perfectly natural to think those boys need to be punished and to also feel sorry for what was really an alcohol-fueled mistake by a couple of stupid 16-year-olds.

Stupid fucking article and ridiculous criticism.

 

Driving home drunk is a stupid decision by a 16-year-old.

Fingering a passed out girl is predatory and sociopathic.

 

And that's why they're going away. I still think there's plenty of room to have sympathy. And, again, the reporter was observing the reactions of the courtroom. Those were the reactions of the courtroom.

 

Deadspin goes after the Steubenville coach:

http://deadsp.in/ZVtjlq


Also, after a request on the Random Thoughts thread, I put the long URL for this story through bitly.com to get the shortened URL you seen here. Took maybe 15 seconds. The shortened URLs really help, especially for mobile devices.

 

Drip: I respect your opinion, but I disagree, partly because I think it's been picked up by national media, and partly because I think it strikes a chord with a trend of anti-women stories that has been growing.

As far as facebook and twitter go, I know I probably read the Internet a lot more than normal people, but if our readers are using those things, don't we need to respond to that?

We hashed this over a couple times today, and I gave my reasoning to the ME, and he accepted it. (We get a good bit of leeway with him).

A couple of other staff members said they had been following it closely as well.

I wouldn't have minded it being inside, and in fact would have had little issue, but I do think it is more important than a brief.