Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

["Cathy Nardo" <>]

Thank YOU Wendy!

 

I also wanted to share our recent email to CBS below and a message from
CBS advertising an upcoming 60 Minutes show on the Duke Lacrosse Team
Rape case.  An official at CBS assured us that emails she receives would
be forwarded to the producers and other  responsible for the content.

You may email the producer at CBS through:  

 or the
through their main website.  Please feel free to comment on their
coverage of this case, if you wish.  

Cathy 

 

 

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Cathy Nardo                                    

Information Specialist                    

Toll Free: (877) 739-3895   Ext. 103            

Phone: (717) 909-0710  

TTY: (717) 909-0715   

Email: 


www.nsvrc.org <http://www.nsvrc.org/> 

 

 

________________________________________

From: Susan Lewis 

Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 3:52 PM

To: 
''

Subject: Duke Lacrosse Team Rape Case -60 Min

Importance: High

 

To the Produces of 60 Minutes Duke Lacrosse Rape Case segment and Leslie
Stahl

 

The NSVRC received a notice from Robin Sanders at CBS News about and
upcoming 60 Minutes piece on the Duke Lacrosse Rape Case.  In fact this
is the second 60 minutes piece on this case which plays to prime time
audience.  The NSVRC expressed its objections (by phone), essentially
saying it questions the journalistic balance, to present such a piece,
no less two such shows, seemingly pro-defense in nature- that let the
parents of the accused speak, etc.  Let's remember that the accused are
formally charged.  

 

We are concerned that such media attention is part of an overall defense
strategy, and that it is ultimately detrimental to the future trial.
Defense strategies play to the court of public opinion, to discredit the
case, the prosecutor or the victim substantially in the pre-trail
period, which in turn sends negative messages to all sexual assault
victims, taints the jury pool, and can do harm to our system of justice.


 

This case aside, guilt or innocent aside, when the media takes such a
proactive role in playing out a case so publicly in the pre-trail
period, it harms  the chances for a fair trial and calls into question
the desired "balanced reporting" of journalists.    This trial should be
the time for the courts of North Carolina to discover what happened.  It
should be an honorable endeavor - the search for truth in a real court.
If indeed, as the defense team suggests, the Duke case is such a weak
case, then surely the trial outcome will express that.  If it so weak,
then let the defense file for speedy trial (a constitutional right).  We
hope that people will ask: why it seems so important for us to have such
shows or so much public posturing about the prosecution, or the weakness
of the case; and ask why the credible media does not recognize the
ethical and legal restrictions on prosecutors to refrain from speaking
about a case in the pre-trail period, and  why the trial process is not
met with greater reverence for the working of our justice system.  So
please, let it all play out properly.  

 

We invite you to review our recent talking points on the Duke Case that
appear on our website, www.nsvrc.org.  

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Susan Lewis

  

Susan H. Lewis, Ph.D.

Communications Director

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

123 North Enola Drive

Enola, PA 17025

Phone:  717-909-0710 Ext. 102

Toll Free:  877-739-3895 Ext. 102

Fax:  717-909-09714

Email:  


 

 

 

It's Robin Sanders from CBS News, and I wanted to make sure you knew
that 60 MINUTES will be running a follow-up story on the Duke lacrosse
case this coming Sunday. As you know, since our original piece aired,
rape charges against the students have been dropped. Now, in his first
interview about the controversial case, Dr. Brian Meehan (the forensic
expert hired by the prosecutor in the case) tells CBS News correspondent
Lesley Stahl that he made a "big error" in judgment by not stating in
his report that the only DNA he found on the accuser was from several
men who were not on the Duke lacrosse team. You'll also hear from the
parents of the accused, who spoke to Stahl in their first group
interview.

 

I'm sure you'll want to tune in. Again, the story will air on 60 Minutes
on Sunday, Jan. 14, 7PM ET/PT on CBS. You might want to check out our
website, http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml --
which you're welcome to link to from you site - as well. And it would be
great it you could let your listserve, or anyone else you think might be
interested in this, know about the piece.

 

As before, please feel free to contact me if you have any further
questions. 

 

Best, Robin

Robin Sanders

CBS News 60 Minutes

phone: 212-975-7598

email: