Naming Names
Tonight 6 News named a former Powell High School senior as part of the investigation into rumors that an assistant principal had an inappropriate sexual relationship with the student and changed grades.
I've received only one unhappy phone call (from a person whose opinion I hold in high regard) about that decision, but I'm sure many others wondered about it and may feel the same way. Why did we name the student? And shouldn't he have some right to privacy?
Those same questions were raised in an editorial meeting prior to the airing of the story by our staff. Did naming the student give viewers a better understanding of the story? Would we name the student if the roles were reversed and it had been a male administrator and a female student?
All valid questions.
Truthfully, making our decision easier was the fact that the News Sentinel had already identified him on its website. The name was already in the public domain. But that wasn't the reason we named the student.
This is a high profile athlete who is headed to UT on a football scholarship. Like it or not, he is held to a higher standard of scrutiny because of that, and by nature of his athletic abilities is a public figure.
The fact that grade tampering is part of the investigation is also significant.
We also took into consideration the affidavit signed by the student, who is now 18, in which he says he is not a victim and that no inappropriate relationship occurred. His father, identified and quoted by the News Sentinel, says the charge is "absurd."
As for would we have named the student had it been a female? The consensus in the meeting was yes, but I'm not sure we would've. There is still a double standard in our society.
An older woman having a sexual relationship with a younger, underage male is a crime, but the male isn't seen as much a victim as an underage female under the same circumstance.
Both the assistant principal and the student say nothing happened of an inappropriate nature. I hope that's true. And I also hope this investigation, now public, is wrapped up quickly and that our reporting does no harm to the innocent.
Comments
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Comments
Our society, and the media,
Our society, and the media, tends to seek out the "absurd" so it does not surprise me that the name and story was out before the investigation was even complete. As a parent of a PHS student, I hope that it is not true, and reserve judgement until all the facts are presented. I can only wish that others will follow the same idea.
Suppose no one has committed
Suppose no one has committed any act of impropriety. In the courts, that is the exact supposition until enough evidence is presented to prove otherwise. This investigation began - and the story is thriving - on gossip. Fact or fiction? We don't know yet. The accused both deny it happened.
If Kallenberg, Smith and any other currently unnamed faculty at PHS are exonerated...at what point will the media and private individuals who've perpetuated it be held accountable to libel & slander laws?
We the people seem to love a good salicious tale, but I fear we tread on a slippery slope. Someday soon MySpace or blog spots like this could feel a chilling effect from torts filed by parties injured by gossip. May it make us all a bit more careful with what we publish over the web.
I agree with Tim.You and the
I agree with Tim.You and the other media outlets are getting perilously close to a Richard Jewel type situation. The people who have been mentioned, if found innocent of any wrongdoing, would be entirely within their rights to sue all of you..or threaten to sue...and to seek damages...and if they are innocent, I hope they do. I really hope they do.
Don't forget, the Asst
Don't forget, the Asst Principal held a news conference and put her name and face to this story. She came to the media, not the other way around.
The student signed an affidavit which legally puts his name on this story.
This is not a case of the media looking for a "juicy" story. Nothing has been done under the table.
Journalists with any speck
Journalists with any speck of professionalism leave themselves an "out" by attributing accusations to someone else. In that case, they're just reporting the story developments without indicting or convicting anyone. The average citizen blogger may not be so circumspect. I just wonder when communications law will eventually invade cyberspace, and someone like you or I will need Mr. Isaacs' representation.
I have heard nothing but
I have heard nothing but "she is accused of having a relationship". She and her lawyer confirmed the accusations in their news conference. This is not a blind reporting of rumors.
If the rumors prove to be
If the rumors prove to be false, and Ms. Kallenberg has a legitimate claim to having suffered because of them, what redress is afforded her - or Lee Smith? Who takes the big "mea culpa" for that? I don't blame the media for reporting facts. But at what point will wagging tongues be silenced? Is it possible to find the genesis of these rumors? And, if the rumors are false, will the one who started it all be sued for slander?
I believe the media is
I believe the media is blowing this and many other issues out of proportion. I remember a story a couple of years ago with allegations against a teacher which later proved to be false. She ended up leaving town because no one wanted her to teach their children thus she could not work in Knox County Schools. There is reporting and then there is Globe/Enquirer/Nancy Grace reporting. I believe our media outlets have become so competitive that they have begun to cross boundaries in trying to outdo one another. Many times to the detriment of innocent people. That young man, while he is legally an adult, is still 18 years old and this media circus would be a very heavy burden to carry at 18 years. I am saddened by the media circus surrounding these allegations and the possible damage this could be doing to allegedly innocent people.