Lara Logan was brutally raped, and now she’s being further victimized by those who claim to share her profession.
The CBS News correspondent was gang raped and beaten Feb. 11 while covering a celebration-turned-mob-scene after the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Read the Associated Press’s full story here.
Chris Jones, a writer for Esquire magazine, wrote a compelling blog post about Logan and others like her who choose to risk their physical and emotional safety to be journalists.
Jones’s post is the type of tribute that would make most serious journalists proud. Someone “gets” it. Someone understands the difference between journalists and those who just claim the title.
Simone Wilson doesn’t “get” it. The LA Weekly blogger received more than 500 comments after she posted about Logan’s rape, calling her a journalist “known for her shocking good looks and ballsy knack for pushing her way to the heart of the action.” The post went on to describe Logan as a “former swimsuit model” and detailed a portion of her sexual history.
Wilson updated the post after the barrage of responses, but a semi-apologetic update doesn’t undo the damage. As reported on salon.com, the “victim-blaming machine” already was activated.
Logan was revictimized by those who claim to share her profession.
Do you think the reporting of Logan’s rape was journalistically sound?
Heather Switzer says
I think Lara Logan’s rape was journalistically sound. After reading the blogs, I have come to the conclusion that Lara Logan is one of the most courageous women I have ever heard of. It takes dedication not only to make your job a top priority with your life going on, but to risk her own life to inform the American people what is happening in Egypt. No one wants, asks or wishes to be sexually assaulted, especially in an unfamiliar place like Egypt. I really enjoyed reading Chris Jones’s blog, Jones made me understand what it’s like to not only get a thrill, but also enjoy and feel proud to be a journalist. Lara Logan, an ex-swim suit model, is known for her good looks but is that her fault? No. Her job is to inform us on what is happening in the world and she just so happens to look pretty doing it. Simone Wilson, to me seems like an insecure, unfortunate looking journalist who is looking for a deep stab at Lara (seems a bit harsh, but it’s how I feel). I am all for Lara Logan. Team Lara Logan. I think the reporting of Logan’s rape was MOFO Politics said, “OMG! I would totally rape her”, how inappropriate. I think it’s unethical and rude to say harsh words after a sexually assaulted female in your same profession has been hurt so badly. I understand we as the people have freedom of speech, but come on people show a little decency and show some support for Logan. This is not something that will come and go, this will be something she remembers for a lifetime. What a heartache, Chris Jones says on his blog, ” Lara Logan chose to tell her story. She decided journalism wasn’t just her profession, it was her life”.
thekrg says
Heather, do you mean that the coverage of her rape was journalistically sound?
Marcus Sams says
I believe the reporting of Lara Logan’s rape was journalistically sound based on the simple fact that she chose to tell her story. The Associated Press reported on the story and said in their article, “The Associated Press does not name victims of a sexual assault unless the victim agrees to it.” Also, Chris Jones said in his blog, “Lara Logan did that same math before she went to Egypt, and she did it again today before she had CBS tell us what happened to her there. Both times, she chose to tell the story. Both times, she decided journalism was her life.” It was her choice to tell her story about her sexual assault. Like Chris said, she made her life journalism and by telling her story, she brought a light to the sexual assault that is currently happening in Cairo. The Associated Press said in their article, “The attack on Logan, CBS News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent, was one of at least 140 others suffered by reporters covering the unrest in Egypt since Jan. 30, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.” Logan is just one of at least 140 others that have been attacked, but she chose to use her personal story to bring light and give a voice to the other victims that have suffered like she has. She made the choice to tell her story, and because of that I, and I believe most people, have a new found respect and admiration for Lara Logan. Everyone’s life is a story and Lara Logan had the opportunity to use her story to inform the world of the events happening in Egypt. She did not simply rely on others experiences to report on events, she used her own.
thekrg says
Marcus,
I’m not sure that I was questioning whether or not they should have reported the rape, but the way in which it was reported by various media outlets. However, I agree that reporting it at all is a question of ethics. Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Kenna
Jarred J. says
The LA Weekly article shows just how off base many “news” outlets are. The author criticizes Salon.com for being so desperate to find an angle they seemed to have blamed the reporter. The articles from Huffington Post and Mofo Politics reflect poorly, not only on those organizations, but on journalism as a whole. The articles insinuate a sad “she was asking for it” tone. The LA Weekly article itself could be interpreted that way. The excerpt referencing the reporters sexual history was very unnecessary; as were the frequent references to her good looks. She should be lauded for her bravery for returning even after the violence that occurred earlier this month; some might call the behavior reckless, yet much of the nation has been avidly following the news. Logan has enough on her plate, she doesn’t need to be blamed for something she had no control over; we also need more female reporters, biased and sexist article like the LA Weekly and those linked in the article might actually discourage this.