News.com.au amends child molester article and posts rebuttal labelling it tactless and insensitive
News Corp’s news.com.au website has taken the unusual step of posting a rebuttal article from a campaigner following the site’s article on how to spot a child molester.
The item by journalist Candace Sutton was posted on Thursday afternoon with the headline “Could you spot a paedophile? Here’s a guide on how to pick a child molester”.
The headline was later changed to “Could you spot a paedophile? Here are the warning signs”. And the word “Opinion” was added to Sutton’s byline.
As Mumbrella wrote on Thursday, the article began:
“Some child molesters jump out of bushes and molest your child on the way home from school.
“But more likely, he is your friendly neighbour or attentive shopkeeper.
“He could be a charming relative or the son of a friend who is all too willing to babysit your children.
“The paedophile in your midst may be the schoolteacher, the bus driver, the youth worker or the lay preacher at your church.”
The website has now given space to an item from Dr Cathy Kezelman, president of the Adults Surviving Child Abuse group. In her follow-up piece, Kezelman wrote: “I was shocked at news.com.au’s piece ‘Could you spot a paedophile?’ The very title evokes fear, as do the images, and it lacked tact and sensitivity.”
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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News Ltd at it’s inflammatory best. Labeling the reporter as an ‘expert’ because she covered criminal or jail stories is dangerous.
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The quest for click-through’s hits a new low. Unbelievable and pretty vile reporting.
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Wow surprising News Ltd in oz only fell 15% in the last year with quality journalism like this.
I have been a subscriber to News Ltd papers for more than 22 years. not anymore.
Shame there is no other quality substitute. No surprise newspapers (and their websites when they go behind paywalls) are dying.
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wow….just wow….how the hell did the idea of that articale even get approved??
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Giacomo, http://www.guardian.co.uk
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Candace Sutton continues the shocking claim that is metered out to now future victims of rape or sexual assault : “if you become a victim your life will be ruined forever”.
These self appointed ‘experts’ are dangerous and have no place writing such articles.
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