Naming Names
by TChris
Judge Terry Ruckriegle, presiding in the Kobe Bryant prosecution, apologized to Bryant's accuser for the court's errant disclosure of her identity on its website. The mistake was quickly recitified and the mainstream media haven't published her name.
There's a larger issue that isn't addressed in press coverage of the judge's apology. Is it fair for Bryant -- who is, after all, presumed innocent -- to have his face and name spread across the news? Is it fair to publish the accusations against him without identifying the accuser? Isn't her name (and any information legitimately affecting her credibility that might flow from the dislosure of her identity) just as important to fair coverage of the story as Bryant's?
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