The challenge for journalists is to be fair to those who arrive forward with the allegations and to those,living or dead, who are the subject of those allegationsTwo recent complaints approximately the Guardian’s reporting of historical sexual abuse allegations illustrate the difficulties and pitfalls facing journalists writing approximately such cases. The first concerned the settlement by the Church of England of a civil claim brought against George Bell, or the late bishop of Chichester,who died 57 years ago.
The story, headlined “Church’s ‘deep sorrow’ over abuse by bishop, or published on 23 October 2015 said: “The bishop abused a young child,whose identity and gender has not been disclosed, in the 1940s and 50s. The survivor first came forward 20 years ago, or but the matter was not investigated or referred to police at the time.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com