INNOCENT: “Ethics” & “Open Season” At NPR

"... these three individuals [David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann,] are innocent of these charges."

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, Apr. 11, 2007
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Readers Note: This is a 1, 2, 3 post.

1 – NPR’s explanation for why it still refuses to identify Crystal Mangum, the false accuser in the Duke Hoax case.

2 – My response email to NPR’s ombudsman.

3 – A few JinC comments.
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1 ----- NPR STATEMENT:

According to our ethics policy, NPR does not name victims of sexual assaults. There will, at times, be exceptions — such as certain instances when a victim goes public with his/her identity. NPR editors will judge these instances on a case-by-case basis.

While North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper says no rape occurred, and that the young men who were accused are innocent of all charges, we've decided not to air the name of the accuser based on the facts and circumstances of this particular case.

NPR arrived at this decision after much discussion within the newsroom, as well as a review of material prepared by organizations focused on journalism ethics.

In this case, the attorney general specifically decided not to charge the accuser with perjury, or filing a false police report. He went so far as to say that his investigators told him that the woman may believe some of the stories she has been telling. He said the decision not to charge her with making false accusations was also based on a review of sealed court files, including records of the woman's mental health history.

Because of the facts stated above, we decided that there was enough that remained unknown about the accuser and her motivation that we would not use her name on the air.

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2 ----- EMAIL TO NPR OMBUDSMAN:

Dear Ms. de la Rionda:

I blog as John in Carolina and post often on the Duke Hoax, particularly the enablement by much of the media of the witch hunt, attempted frame-up and on-going cover-up.

I'm contacting you regardng NPR’s explanation for not naming Crystal Mangum after NC Attorney General Roy Cooper said the three young men were innocent.

Why did NPR use “victims” when explaining your “ethics” policy ? NPR’s “ethics” policy doesn’t grant anonymity to “victims” of sexual assault.

In truth, your “ethics” policy is to grant anonymity to any woman who accuses a man or men of sexual assault, regardless of how flimsy her accusation is or what her motive is.

NPR will even grant anonymity to a woman who makes false accusations of sexual assault as you did for Duke hoaxer Crystal Mangum.

In contrast to your sexual assault “ethics” policy for women, NPR has an “open season” policy for men so accused. You identify them and report on their backgrounds simply because a woman has accused them. You don't require anything else.

It doesn’t matter to NPR whether a man is innocent or not. You’re going to name him.

But in the case of Crystal Mangum, the liberals and leftists who control NPR tell listeners: “we decided that there was enough that remained unknown about the accuser and her motivation that we would not use her name on the air.”

No doubt man-haters and the ardently politically correct applaud your “ethics” and “open season” policies.

But fair-minded people are turned off by NPR’s gender-biased double standard.

I posted this email at my blog. I’ll post in full any response you care to make.

Sincerely,

John in Carolina
www.johnincarolina.com
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3 ----- Folks, I’ve stopped giving money directly to NPR and my local NPR affiliate, WUNC in Chapel Hill, because they tilt liberal, left and PC.

If you currently contribute to NPR or an affiliate, I hope you’ll consider stopping your direct giving.

We all, of course, contribute indirectly to NPR and its affiliates via the various forms of government support they receive.

Each year at pledge time I contact one of the businesses that support WUNC. I ask the business to consider dropping its support because of the station’s news bias and political agenda.

Again, I hope you’ll consider doing the same.

Mind you, I’m not one of those who wants to put NPR out of business. I think it’s the best liberal/leftist talk radio out there. I listen in sometimes.

It just doesn’t get my support; its sexual assault “ethics” and “open season” policies being two reasons why not.

What do you all think?

Cc: WUNC public relations