University warns newspapers not to give identifying information aboutchild victims

Carol Forsloff - Newspapers need to do a better job of protecting the identities of child victims, according to New Hampshire researchers, because of how this might impact the victim's rights and family issues.

New Hampshire University researchers found that more than half of all newspaper articles on crimes against children reveal identifying information about the victims.

The research is published in the June 2010 issue of the journal Journalism in the article “Protecting Victims’ Identities in Press Coverage of Child Victimization.”

“Many outlets have policies aimed at protecting child victims,” said study lead author Lisa Jones. “But when you look at the details, articles include facts and references that could clearly identify them, including the family name, address, and schools they attend. Much of the coverage of the abuse included personal and potentially very embarrassing details about the victimization, such as descriptive details of the physical acts committed during sexual victimizations.”

In order to make this assessment, researchers examined 500 newspaper articles in 36 different newspapers over a two-year period where non-fatal crimes were perpetrated against children.  They found identifying information in many of the cases covered, especially when the crimes involved other family members or high-profile sex offenders.  Although sex crimes were less reported, researchers found 37 percent of newspapers had identifying information on cases involving children

.Researchers maintain since children have less protection in U.S. law, it falls to the states to help protect them.  In addition victims have to depend on the media guidelines as well and make sure these are properly enforced.

“It certainly can be humiliating to be known because your parent beat you or you were the victim of a hate crime,” Jones said.

Those involved in the research also say it is important to leave out the names of offenders or quoted individuals who might be family members.“It is not helpful for newspapers to say they are withholding the name of the victim, and then quote the child’s mother by name saying she thinks the offender deserved a longer sentence,” Jones said.

Created in 1998, the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center (CCRC) works to combat crimes against children through its research and information provided to the public and law enforcement agencies.