Poll: Should there be media guidelines for discussions around sexual assaults?

DO YOU THINK a media code should be introduced to guide journalists and presenters on how issues around rape and sexual assaults are treated on air?

On Friday’s edition of Newstalk’s High Noon, presenter George Hook discussed a UK court case where a woman alleged that she had been raped by a Commonwealth Games swimmer. Hook said that “questions” surrounded the woman’s account and asked whether there’s “no blame now to the person who puts themselves in danger?”

Both Newstalk and Hook have apologised for the offensive comments.

In response, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said on RTÉ’s This Week that “it was high time that we had guidelines” for the media on how to discuss cases of rape. (There are already media guidelines in place for how to report on suicides.)

So, Do you think that there should be media guidelines on how to discuss rape and sexual assaults?

Poll Results:

• Yes
  
• No
  
• I don't know
  

Vote