Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has released an analysis of the media reporting around the case of an 8th grade girl who was allegedly gang raped by three schoolboys on the high school's premises, expressing its concern over the way in which the story has been reported.
Media has:
Invaded the privacy and failed to respect the dignity of the alleged rape victim;
Failed to highlight that rape is rape - no circumstances excuse or justify it;
Failed to sufficiently address that the video is child pornography - the manufacture, possession and distribution of which are crimes;
Been inconsistent in how it has reported certain details, leading to confusion.
Director of MMA William Bird said, "the media must work harder and ensure that all reports on this matter are in the best interests of the children involved".
