This week in class we discussed Cameron D'Ambrosio and how different news media outlets portrayed him in different lights. Similarly, when a young woman in Steubenville was gang-raped on video by a group of men from her high school, Poppy Hartlow from CNN tried to tell the story from the rapists' points of view, which sparked outrage from many viewers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvUdyNko8LQ
Hartlow reported that the rapists were convicted of raping the young woman and even photographing her naked. However, Hartlow made it seem tragic because the men were star football players that were devastated by the verdict. The report went on to say that the men will be in a juvenile detention facility for about two years and the men's lives will be affected by this forever because their sexual offender status will haunt them for the rest of their lives; they will be unable to get a job and neighbors will be aware of their status. Clearly Hartlow's comments made a lot of viewers angry because she seemed to be sympathizing with the rapists. As much as newscasters try to tell every side of the story, it is difficult for many to agree with Hartlow's sympathy for the rapists.
Hartlow failed to mention how the woman who was raped will be affected by this for the rest of her life. This woman was unconscious, but the two men (and perhaps more men) proceeded to rape her as well ask take video and photos throughout. Hartlow seemed to be mourning the rapists' "tragic fate" as the two high school football stars were convicted of rape. Many people, myself included, do not agree with this view and claim that the two men deserve the verdict. As much as a guilty verdict in the case of rape will haunt someone forever, being the victim of a rape will haunt someone forever as well, perhaps in worse ways. The woman may have to deal with PTSD, a mistrust in men, and distrustful relationships in the future. Hartlow never mentions this, though; she only mentions how this will affect the rapists.
No comments:
Post a Comment