On publishing names of minors
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May 2, 2013 |
By Mike Weland
Publisher
I recently published the name of a 12-year-old
who, in court, entered an admission of guilt to
a criminal act.
I was immediately informed that publishing the
names of minors is illegal at worst, unethical
at best. As a publisher, I assure you it is not
illegal. As to ethics, journalist have
disagreed.
The main complainant, who took pains to
expressly inform me I had no permission whatever
to publish anything written or implied,
requested I delete the child's name; authorities
assured the family that the child's name would
not be revealed.
As a journalist, I'm not often included in such
negotiations; authorities who promise immunity
cannot speak on my behalf. If it becomes public
record, I have the right to publish. Contrary to
popular belief, I typically lose advertisers in
such matters rather than gain them.
Publishing news that is to be heard and trusted
is not easy, nor without cost. I did not want to
publish this child's name. I am aware his life
is going to be worse because I named him; his
friends and family now stand in the public, as
well as the legal eye.
Personally, I respect him for admitting his
mistake ... and I pray his honesty and the
admission that he made a mistake is considered
by the judge. He has disrupted his young life,
for whatever reason, and he's taken
responsibility. That speaks highly of this young
man's character. By so doing, we know who scared
and disrupted school and threw a town into
panic.
We can breathe a sigh of relief.
It was just a kid. No harm meant, but his small
action threw a town into turmoil.
Two other kids have been implicated. This
journal has not published their names, and I
have been chastised. As a journalistic and legal
standard, there is a difference,
Both deny guilt, and in our system of
jurisprudence they must be considered innocent
until otherwise proved.
I respect them for taking advantage of their
rights to remain silent, to stand trial. Be they
proven guilty in a court of law, this journal
will name them.
Even if it costs advertisers. |
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I want for you to know that I
wholeheartedly support your decision to publish
the name of the child.
This is a small community where everyone knows
everyone else. Without a name, the door to
speculation and suspicion is wide open. It’s
better to know who it is, than to view every
child walking down the road or in the grocery
store with suspicion.
Does publishing his name as you say, “make his
life harder”? Perhaps. But, I believe that it is
good for children to take responsibility for and
even suffer the consequences of their actions.
It’s much better to learn those lessons now,
rather than later.
This community is full of some wonderful people,
full of grace and compassion, and hopefully we
can help this child grow.
With sincere appreciation, |
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Barbara Gallegly |
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