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What was purpose in covering trial?

Published 4:16pm Friday, February 15, 2013

I have struggled to understand the sheer volume of newspaper space that The Natchez Democrat chose to devote to last week’s sexual battery trial. In almost 20 years in Natchez I cannot remember this level of detailed verbatim reporting for a local trial.

Why report on this trial on a scope that far surpasses trials for murderers? Is it that sex sells newspapers? Is it the opportunity to provide salacious details? Is it the involvement of a minor? Is it the potential discussion of homosexuality?

It clearly was a difficult case, with many very personal and potentially damaging accusations and assumptions and speculations made.  What purpose was served by repeating these over multiple pages for several days?

The articles were not poorly written, but the publishing judgment seems very questionable to me.

 

Kathleen Jenkins Bond

Natchez

 

Editor’s note: We attempt to cover any significant criminal court case involving a potentially lengthy prison sentence for the accused. The complexity of this case, as referenced by attorneys involved as well as the judge, made this case span a much longer period of time than most local murder cases. The week prior, a murder case was covered and received just as much space in print on each day’s coverage, though the case was processed in only two days, while the sexual battery case occurred over four days.

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  • Anonymous

    Get a grip!

  • Anonymous

    Perhaps you could lobby Congress to limit the First Amendment so newspapers can’t publish embarrassing facts about “protected” minorities. Let’s just go ahead and make your political correctness law. If I thought that would put an end to the incessant whining I might go along with that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Stutzman/100000914851900 Joe Stutzman

    it WAS news.

  • Anonymous

    WILL THE *COWARDLY* PERSON BEHIND THAT “EDITOR’S-NOTE” PLEASE STAND UP. WITH OUT YOUR HOOD ON PLEASE.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve seen more in-depth coverage of this sort of trial in larger Metropolitan areas, in larger Newspapers. I do not believe Natchez Democrat’s publishing judgement was questionable at all. In fact, I would encourage the Natchez Democrat to continue in-depth coverage of anything “Judicial” or “Political” in this town. There’s way too much subterfuge as it is…

  • Anonymous

    Dear Mrs. Bond. I was in the courtroom and it was much more brutal than printed. And YES, it needed to out in the public’s face. This was a man who was falsely accused. When he was arrested it was all over the paper; where was you’re outcry then? He was literally fighting for his life of freedom. It’s too bad if this offended you. Your outrage should be directed towards the District Attorney’s office for wasting YOUR tax dollars on a case the was based purely on what an infatuated, spoiled, self centered young man said because for the first time in his life, he couldn’t have what he wanted and tried his best to send the man to jail. Since it seems that you’re guilty until proven innocent around here, EVERYONE who convicted him by “what they heard” should now be convinced that James was the scapegoat. This same young man has another case pending in Jackson for the same “crime”. ….do you see a pattern yet? The next time you’re on trial, you better hope the newspaper covers your trial as indepth as this one did.

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