By: Cindy Brovsky, Associated Press Writer (AP) Hundreds of journalists descended on the mountain town of Eagle to cover the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case Thursday, but one local newspaper decided to opt out of the media mob.
In an editorial Thursday titled "Kobe Who?" the
Aspen Daily News said it would end its coverage of the NBA star's case until there is a settlement or verdict.
Bryant's second court appearance in Eagle, 60 miles away, was a fixture on TV news and covered by reporters from as far away as Italy. The editorial complained other good stories are being ignored.
"We're not going to add to that over-amplification, and perhaps the readers out there who feel the same way will enjoy reading a Kobe-less newspaper," it said.
The 12,500-circulation paper has carried stories on the case since the Los Angeles Lakers star was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in July. But Associate Editor Troy Hooper said readers have had enough.
"The reason we did this is we don't want to be part of pack journalism," he said. "Most readers and the public are sick of the story and overwhelmed."
One journalism expert questioned the decision.
"While I agree the coverage has been salacious and sensational and damaging, I don't know that's the best approach," said Kelly McBride of the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank in St. Petersburg, Fla. "I think it would be better to acknowledge celebrity cases in a minimal way and then use the celebrity case as an excuse to delve into phenomenon of rape in our society."
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