The Gladstone Observer has been reporting on the trial of a man accused of raping and sexually abusing his stepson, starting when the boy was 11 years old.
The man has pleaded not guilty and the Gladstone District court has been hearing evidence since last week.
Court reporting is no sinecure. It can be very difficult to cover a full day’s evidence in a single article. And if the trial runs over several days, which a case like this would, it can be even more difficult to put a single day’s evidence in context.
Also, journalists need to be extremely careful with what and how they report on trial when the victim of the alleged crimes is a child.
This article in the Gladstone Observer was reporting on a day that appeared to be mostly about evidence given by the defence. It followed an article from last week that was mostly about the prosecution evidence.
The original headline and the fixed headline in red are equally true and equally accurate in their report on the evidence given to the court that day. And they are also equally biased in the picture they present to readers of what is happening in the trial.
The green fix is accurate and impartial. And not difficult.
FixedIt is an ongoing project to push back against the media’s constant erasure of violent men and blaming of innocent victims. If you would like to help fund it – even $5 a month makes a big difference – please consider becoming a Patron
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