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Investigative journalism has uncovered hundreds of sexual assault cases in America, including the sexual abuse of children in USA gymnastics and in the Catholic Church. In the age of "fake news" and the #MeToo movement, journalists have to be extremely cautious about approaching sexual assault stories. Reporters encounter an incredible challenge to meet journalistic responsibilities when covering sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations. Journalists are trained not to accept anonymous sources, but anonymity may be critical to protecting victims from further harm. While upholding the ethical standard to seek and report the truth, journalists sometimes have to weigh the responsibility of transparency and minimizing harm.
In 2017, TIME's Person of the Year was not one person, but a group of women who broke the silence of sexual assault. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, accusers spoke to TIME about their horrific encounters with powerful men. Among the accusers were Ashley Judd, who addressed Harvey Weinstein's advances on her in 1997, and Taylor Swift, who discussed the blame her harasser, Denver radio DJ David Mueller, and his lawyer wanted her to feel for Mueller's loss of employment. TIME also published the stories of two anonymous accusers. In TIME's decision to include such sources, the publication sacrificed transparency for seeking truth and minimizing harm.
Although it appears the #MeToo movement happened overnight, the victims have been suffering with these stories for years, afraid of the consequences that would come from the allegations. Women feared loss of trust and advancement in their careers. Now, victims are more likely to be believed as the number of reported sexual assaults is rising.
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| Chris Pizzello/AP |
In response to the recent allegations that Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh sexually assaulted Christine Blasey Ford, Patti Davis wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post to share her support of Ford. Davis, the author and daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan, was allegedly abused by a music executive 40 years ago. Although the incident haunted her for years, she was unable to share the details, even with her loved ones. She was ashamed that she did not fight back. In the piece, she described the vivid details she remembers and what insignificant parts she cannot recall.
The most challenging aspect of covering sexual assault allegations is the lack of evidence. According to an article by Truthdig, "rape kits often remain untested in police and crime labs, and without a recording or text exchange, harassment can be difficult to document." Another concern about reporting assault is addressing the severity of the assaults differently. Harassment is not equivalent to rape. The distinction is necessary.
Journalists should prepare to receive as much criticism from powerful men for reporting the allegations as the accusers will inevitably face. They should consider the SPJ Code of Ethics and prioritize which ethical standards are the most significant to uphold. Is transparency as important as minimizing harm when it comes to reporting the allegations? Does anonymity reduce the accuracy and objectivity of the article? Covering sexual assault is complicated and should not be approached without careful consideration.
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