It is doubtful whether publishing petty larcenies cuts down on shoplifting, but the publication of the names of prostitutes and johns in the newspaper does suppress prostitution. Clifton Douglas, former deputy managing editor of The Miami Herald, recalled that the newspaper used to publish the names of prostitutes and johns after special sting operations by police. Now managing editor of The Charlotte Observer, Douglas said the North Carolina newspaper does not routinely cover such arrests. I'd just as soon not publish the names of either prostitutes or their customers when arrests are orchestrated events. Eighteen months ago, The Kentucky Post began publishing the names of persons arrested for prostitution or solicitation after reports from police, business people and residents that said prostitution had become a serious problem in Covington.
Newspapers deal with the public record and the law and it is against the law to solicit prostitutes.
Publicity is not the only thing that drives a person to that kind of act of desperation. Diane Lewis is a staff writer for the Boston Globe. The Newsletter On Journalism Ethics, vol. Reprinted with the permission of Billy Goat Strut Publishing. This case may be reproduced for classroom and research purposes.