The Globe and Mail's Standards Editor addresses reader concerns about the explicit details in its coverage of the Hockey Canada trial. The article explains that crime and court reporting is crucial for 'open justice' and that journalists must report arguments from both sides, even if graphic. It acknowledges the challenge of balancing public interest with reader sensitivity, especially in the 24-hour news cycle, and discusses the effectiveness of content warnings and reasons for closing comments on such stories.
Standards Editor: Say less? Crime reporting serves the public interest, but some readers say there’s too much explicit detail
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The Globe and Mail's Standards Editor addresses reader concerns about the explicit details in its coverage of the Hockey Canada trial. The article explains that crime and court reporting is crucial for 'open justice' and that journalists must report arguments from both sides, even if graphic. It acknowledges the challenge of balancing public interest with reader sensitivity, especially in the 24-hour news cycle, and discusses the effectiveness of content warnings and reasons for closing comments on such stories.
Trending- 1 1913: Principle of 'open justice' established.
- 2 1970s: News media overreported violent crime.
- 3 2016: Jian Ghomeshi sexual-assault trial.
- 4 2016: Nik Usher interviewed by NPR.
- 5 2022: Hockey Canada's internal investigation of E.M.'s complaint.
- 6 April 22: Hockey Canada trial began.
- 7 Ongoing: The Globe and Mail publishes stories on the trial.
- 8 Recent: Jury dismissed, case switched to judge-alone trial.
- Reader discomfort/questions about explicit details
- Ongoing debate about journalistic ethics
- Challenges for journalists covering jury trials
What: Discussion and justification of journalistic practices, specifically the inclusion of explicit details in crime and court reporting, using the Hockey Canada trial as a case study.
When: Since April 22 (Hockey Canada trial began), 2016 (NPR interview, Jian Ghomeshi trial), 2022 (Hockey Canada internal investigation).
Where: Canada (The Globe and Mail, Hockey Canada), United States (NPR, George Washington University, University of San Diego, New York Times), 10 countries (The Conversation).
Why: Readers have questioned the amount of explicit detail in crime reporting, particularly concerning the Hockey Canada trial, and the necessity of such details.
How: The Globe and Mail's senior editors discuss coverage, emphasizing the duty to report evidence accurately for 'open justice.' The article cites academic opinions on crime reporting trends and the limited effectiveness of trigger warnings. It also explains why comments are closed on certain stories due to publication bans and legal risks.