RADAR Alert: NYTimes Falsifies Truth about DV

When it comes to committing domestic violence, women are fully the equal of men. Scores of research studies in the United States and elsewhere show that women are just as likely as men to engage in partner aggression. And fully 38% of persons who suffer injuries from domestic violence are male. [See http://www.mediaradar.org/media_fact_sheet.php]

But the New York Times consistently portrays the domestic violence issue as men who beat up their wives and girlfriends. That depiction is scurrilous and false.

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On April 6, 2005 the Times published the article, Sweden Boldly Exposes a Secret Side of Women’s Lives. Most disturbing was this description of domestic abusers: “It’s not alcoholics and drug users…It’s every man and in every class of society.” Every man? In every class of society? But not women?

The article did not provide a shred of evidence to support such a sweeping statement, nor did NYT reporter Lizette Alvarez dispute that hateful allegation.

In response to this statement, RADAR – a coalition of men and women who are working for balanced media coverage of domestic violence – issued an Alert on April 10. The Alert called upon persons to contact public editor Daniel Okrent, requesting the Times to retract this ideologically-slanted article.

Hundreds of e-mails, letters, and telephone calls went out to the Times. But Mr. Okrent did not respond. Publishing a one-sided and libelous article, and then refusing to respond to persons’ concerns, is an example of media arrogance.

Beginning April 18, RADAR will go to Phase II of its effort to stop the falsification of truth about domestic violence at the Times.

Phase II:

April 18-22: Concerned persons will contact all the editors at the New York Times, requesting a retraction of the Alvarez article, and asking the editors to assure objectivity and balance in future coverage of domestic violence.

Phase III:

On-going: Request columnists to write articles on bias at the New York Times

Phase IV

April 30: Protest at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20009. 4:00 – 8:00pm.

Persons are encouraged to wear T-shirts with an appropriate domestic violence message and to carry a sign.

More information about this campaign will be posted at http://www.mediaradar.org/.

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