Comments on: When can you name rape victims? Nick Kristof replies http://www.jinamoore.com/2010/02/05/rape-victims-nick-kristof-replies/ Reporter & Producer Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: More ‘hardcore’ journalism « Shotgun Shack http://www.jinamoore.com/2010/02/05/rape-victims-nick-kristof-replies/#comment-6427 More ‘hardcore’ journalism « Shotgun Shack Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:31:24 +0000 http://www.jinamoore.com/?p=1245#comment-6427 [...] It’s one thing if a person makes a conscious and willing choice to become a symbol or a spokesperson. It’s entirely another thing if someone else decides that a person who survived something terrible should be a symbol or spokesperson about an issue, without the agreement or informed consent of that person. [...] [...] It’s one thing if a person makes a conscious and willing choice to become a symbol or a spokesperson. It’s entirely another thing if someone else decides that a person who survived something terrible should be a symbol or spokesperson about an issue, without the agreement or informed consent of that person. [...]

]]> By: lenny http://www.jinamoore.com/2010/02/05/rape-victims-nick-kristof-replies/#comment-540 lenny Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:03:10 +0000 http://www.jinamoore.com/?p=1245#comment-540 thanks for this. i will be documenting our programs in uganda, dcr, burundi & sri lanka. i have been wondering how to handle precisely this question--do i allow these faces/names to be known? is there freedom in being known or are the risks just too heavy. i would say i lean towards glenna's viewpoint--but my mind did not go their instinctively. instead, like you that some good would come out of being a pioneer, leading the way--the hope ideas about women's rights would change. i'm still stumped. i am hoping the experience of witnessing will educate me and my heart/mind/soul all will align. it takes courage to speak out and be known. i guess searching my own self i will find the answer--would i have the same courage i am asking from them? be well. thanks for this.
i will be documenting our programs in uganda, dcr, burundi & sri lanka.
i have been wondering how to handle precisely this question--do i allow these faces/names to be known? is there freedom in being known or are the risks just too heavy.

i would say i lean towards glenna's viewpoint--but my mind did not go their instinctively. instead, like you that some good would come out of being a pioneer, leading the way--the hope ideas about women's rights would change.

i'm still stumped. i am hoping the experience of witnessing will educate me and my heart/mind/soul all will align. it takes courage to speak out and be known. i guess searching my own self i will find the answer--would i have the same courage i am asking from them?

be well.

]]> By: Texas in Africa http://www.jinamoore.com/2010/02/05/rape-victims-nick-kristof-replies/#comment-495 Texas in Africa Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:56:30 +0000 http://www.jinamoore.com/?p=1245#comment-495 Great points, Jina, and kudos to you for actually contacting Kristof. My issue is that this is about a minor and you JUST DON'T DO THAT. Ever. Calling her "Christine" and showing a picture of her back would have had an equivalent effect on mobilizing readers - my students were absolutely horrified when I talked with them about this issue this morning while never naming the child - without putting this little girl in more danger. I do think that Kristof is engaging in a bit of post-facto rationalization here, but even if he really did think about it beforehand, he made a choice that no responsible journalist should make. Remember the Roman Polanski brouhaha a few months back? Almost no reputable journalistic outlets named the child in question, even though that child is now an adult. And the answer in his blog post seems to be that it's okay because she's Congolese. I'm not okay with that. Great points, Jina, and kudos to you for actually contacting Kristof. My issue is that this is about a minor and you JUST DON'T DO THAT. Ever. Calling her "Christine" and showing a picture of her back would have had an equivalent effect on mobilizing readers - my students were absolutely horrified when I talked with them about this issue this morning while never naming the child - without putting this little girl in more danger.

I do think that Kristof is engaging in a bit of post-facto rationalization here, but even if he really did think about it beforehand, he made a choice that no responsible journalist should make. Remember the Roman Polanski brouhaha a few months back? Almost no reputable journalistic outlets named the child in question, even though that child is now an adult. And the answer in his blog post seems to be that it's okay because she's Congolese. I'm not okay with that.

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