So my prejudice is always toward telling the viewer all the germane facts that we know. That is why I oppose military censorship, legislative mandate, and the general belief that we should only print the names of rape victims who volunteer their names. In no other category of news do we give the newsmaker the option of being named. Third, by not naming rape victims we are part of a conspiracy of silence, and that silence is bad for viewers and readers. In reinforces the idea that somehow there is something shameful about being raped.
Rape is a crime of violence, a horrible crime of violence.
One role of the press is to inform, and one way of informing is to destroy incorrect impressions and stereotypes. Fourth, and finally, there is an issue of fairness. I heard no debate in our newsroom and heard of no debate in other newsrooms on whether we should name the suspect, William Smith. He has not been charged with anything. Probably, yes, because he was thrust into the news, rightly or wrongly.