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Newsweek critic shoots, misses

By Mark Obbie

A University of Texas-El Paso psychology professor, who volunteered his consulting to the defense in the Mineola Swingers case in Tyler, Texas, used the well-read Romenesko letters section to accuse reporters covering the case of "shallow, sensationalistic coverage." The professor, James Wood, likens the case to the hysteria in past cases over unreliable sex-assult allegations by children against adults. But Wood's one named target, Newsweek.com's Gretel Kovach, objects to Wood's depiction of her August 23 story as uncritical of the prosecution. She's right. Although the central character in her story believes the child-witnesses' stories of being raped for the entertainment of patrons at the sex club, much of the story focuses on doubts about the evidence and claims that the witnesses were coached to railroad the defendants. And what of Wood's broader point? Let's hope a reporter with access to the extensive background on the case, and the time to explore the story, will evaluate the coverage.

Full post as published by Lawbeat on September 02, 2008 (boomark / email).