If you’re a regular here, you know I manage to find myself mired in commentary about journalism on rape once every three or four months… though it rarely attracts the attention it did a month ago.
I’m working on an essay that’s going to bring a lot of my thoughts, and a lot of what I’ve learned from commenters here and elsewhere, together. I could use your help: I’m looking for examples of journalism about rape that’s done well, and I’m interested in why you think it’s done well. I’m also looking for the opposite — what doesn’t work and why doesn’t it work for you as a reader?
I’m a big believer that writing about certain kinds of trauma, especially rape, requires a writer’s careful consideration of a reader’s reaction. So from you savvy readers, I’d love to learn a bit about stories you think manage the sensitivity of covering rape well, and that don’t, and why. In fact, I need your fresh eyes: The one thing it’s really hard for a writer to be, sometimes, is a reader.
Leave me links and comments right here; if you don’t want them published just say so in your comment and I’ll keep what you share private.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Jina,
I am not sure I have anything of substantial value to add here but I am looking forward to your conclusion and the inputs you will get here.
I am sure somehow will point to the live-tweeting of a rape in Haiti earlier this year by a MJ reporter.
I just would like to point out that in the African bilingual newspapers I follow, rape stories tend to show up in the local language and not in the language that would be understood by most foreigners. I am not sure why that is, I just think it is odd especially since a sexual violence story is being posted on average twice a week. I don’t know whether that is also true in the countries you are covering.
Thanks, Lova. Which papers? And do papers or radio reach more locals? I’ll let you know when the essay runs…
There’s a lot I think has been done badly but one book that’s gotten a lot of press and attention in Germany is detailed here: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,680354,00.html … Hope that helps a bit.
Vielen Dank, Courtney. I remember that article but, not being in Germany, no idea what kind of buzz the book created. Do you think it was the topic (German women’s stories emerging from silence), or the way the book was written, that people responded to?