Alleged journalists forget basic ethics

I’m not sure what I should be most upset about with the article “Several bystanders witness St. Paul apartment hallway rape.” There’s so much to think about.

First, there was an alleged rape. Rapes are bad and rapists are scum.

Second, there were bystanders who did nothing to stop said alleged rape. It’s a damn shame what fear can do to a person when another is in need of help.

Lastly, the reporting of said rape and said bystanders doesn’t bother saying it was an alleged rape. The Star Tribune comes out and convicts the guy: “When police arrived they learned there had been a rape.” In fact, the word “alleged” isn’t even in the story.

Whether or not the reporters saw any tapes showing the accused hitting and possibly raping the victim, the media are not the law. The media are not a jury. And the media certainly shouldn’t be the judge.

I don’t mean for this to come across as a defense for the accused rapist with the peculiar name, Rage. I mean this to come across as a plea for the media’s respect of one of the basic tenets of the American law: innocent until proven guilty.

I expect the Star Tribune to be more responsible in its crime coverage from here on out.

Addendum: The last two paragraphs are crass and have no bearing on this supposed crime. If you want to write about this phenomena, write about this phenomena. Don’t hide it behind this this particular event.

That is all.