Investigative Void: Sex Assault in the News

This writer is fascinated by TV shows like "Criminal Minds" and likes to connect those dots in a meaningful way. By propagating the notion that loose libidos are the norm, we do ourselves a very terrible disservice.

(SALEM) - Over the last 50 years, this one-time reporter has carefully followed current events. Reading the daily paper has been a staple. In recent years, the media has taken to focus on sexual assaults of both adults and children. Maybe the media think that giving the bare-bones information and passing it along as an eveyday event is adequate for public consumption. I hasten to ardently disagree. As a news consumer, I want to know the elements of motivation. I seek to see the fuller picture. What kind of social influences impacted the so-called perpetrator? Can we as a social justice community get a handle on cause and effect? Why is one person restrained while yet another goes berserk and behaves like violence is pre-ordained? Is there something new we can learn? This writer is fascinated my TV shows like "Criminal Minds" and likes to connect those dots in a meaningful way. By propagating the notion that loose libidos are the norm, we do ourselves a very terrible disservice. We are conspiring to give lip service to confronting sexual assault. Certainly those police detectives who question such assault suspects are interested in viewing motivation. Has the suspect been immersed in pornography-prone movies? So called adult bookstores which peddle what used to be called "smut"? Does the would-be perpetrator lead a double-life, outwardly appearing to be a model citizen while surreptiously exploiting every woman (or gay) victim if granted that opportunity? It is inaccurate to portray us as a society of voyeurs. Intelligent probing minds do exist with some regularity. Let's demand that print and online reporters move beyond sensationalism.

========================================================================= NOTE: Lee Coyne disdains superficiality. He has been a probing journalist since 1963, then working for The NY Voice. Email your comments to: notcoy@netzero.net.

NOTE: B. Lee Coyne first emerged as a Caucasian cub reporter for the Black weekly NY Voice and was assigned to cover numerous civil rights struggles. It has left its indelible mark on his mindset. He can be contacted at: notcoy@netzero.net.

B. Lee Coyne, a NYC native, blends three careers: Journalist, Counselor, Educator. His writings have appeared in newspapers and magazines on the East and West Coasts and the Southwest. He loves the art of the interview and has covered such persons as Dr. King's 1963 "Dream" speech and Sen. William

Proxmire as an advocate for the environment. A global traveller to some 30 countries aboard, he speaks Spanish semi-fluently and very rudimentary Russian, Tagalog, German, Arabic and Hebrew.

Lee's legacy here in Salem includes launching the Salem Peace Mosaic at the YMCA and doing a radio talk show for KMUZ/88.5 FM. It airs Mondays and highlights lives of proactive, productive senior citizens. He invites you to contact him at: notcoy@netzero.net.