Ind. Paper Stands Behind Sex Offender Coverage

By: Joe Strupp Editors at The Star Press in Muncie, Ind., stood behind their controversial decision to publish names, addresses and Page One photos of local residents who are on the state's convicted sex offender registry, calling the approach a public service that has the most reader impact.

"It is public information and we felt people had the right to know who is living where," said Douglas Walker, the paper's metro editor. "Their own actions resulted in their being placed on the registry."

But the move drew criticism from some journalism ethics experts, who questioned whether the paper went too far in exposing the sex offenders to potential harm or retaliation.

"They are serving a portion of their public by seeking the truth and reporting it," said Gary Hill, chair of the Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee, who compared the publicity to putting criminals in public stocks. "But if you believe that any of these people have a chance for rehabilitation, you are doing considerable harm."

Kelly McBride, an ethics instructor at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., agreed. "A lot of newsrooms fall into the 'if it's legal, we are going to do it' category," she said. "They should be obligated to go beyond what is legal and weigh the value of what they are legally allowed to do against the harm or good that can come of it and make a decision on journalistic grounds."

McBride also worried that readers could overreact to the coverage, either by retaliating against one of the sex offenders or allowing fears of attack to alter their lives. "Our responsibility is to accurately reflect the risk," she said.

Walker said there was extensive newsroom discussion about the publication of information, and photos, with editors deciding the reader had a right to know. "There was a great deal of debate and argument," he said.

The issue gained attention on Sunday, when the Star Press (Click for QuikCap) published several stories about Indiana's sexual offender registry, which has been in place since 1994, but did not go online until last year. The package of stories included a lengthy piece on the registry law that requires any convicted sexual offender who moves to Indiana to register with the state.

The main story also discussed ways to access the information, problems with updating the listing, and the registry's effect on both victims and convicted offenders. It also reported on the 30 sex offenders who lived in the area and had not registered. A sidebar focused on a deputy sheriff who oversees the registry, while another one looked at the history of the law.

The Sunday paper listed the 63 convicted sex offenders who are registered and live in Delaware County, where Muncie is located. The list included addresses and the crime for which the person was convicted, while each person's photo ran on the front page.

"It was our feeling that a whole lot of people were unaware of the registry," said Executive Editor Evan Miller, who said he had no regrets. "We think it is a public service for readers to know where people live and what they look like."

Miller, who joined the paper last year, said he regularly published the names and photos of registered sex offenders at his former paper, The Bellingham (Wash.) Herald. He believed a listing made the Star Press stories complete.

Publisher Emmett Smelser said the stories were, in part, a response to the public's ignorance about the registry, while also aiding those who do not have access to a computer to review the sex offender list. "There was a pretty widespread lack of knowledge about the registry as well as a lack of awareness of the number of people who may be in the community," Smelser said. "That persuaded us that there was a need to inform the public about the need for it."

Smelser said the paper did not consult with its attorney about possible legal ramifications, declaring that the information was public record. He also said the paper was not worried about anyone retaliating against staffers.

On Thursday, the Star Press published a follow-up story on the effect of the coverage, which included several people reportedly losing their jobs and others breaking off relationships. The paper also received a mix of letters to the editor, ranging from supporters who were glad to see the list and photos to critics worried that the exposure might unfairly harm the registrants.

"I think it was a good idea," said Seth Slabaugh, one of several Star Press reporters who spoke with E&P and supported the effort. "I haven't heard any negative staff reaction."

Smelser and Miller both said the listings and photos would not become a regular occurrence in the paper, with Smelser calling it "a one-shot deal."