Not a day goes by at the moment without hearing about a new arrest in operation Yewtree. The fact #RolfHarris is now trending on Twitter means my timeline is a hotbed of speculation, jokes, and condemnation. It makes me so angry.
In this country, our justice system prevails on the principle of presumption of innocence - it’s the bedrock of any civilised society and there to protect us all. Yet the presumption of innocence extends beyond the judicial system. Journalistic codes of ethics state that journalists should refrain from referring to suspects as though their guilt is certain.
Although this means the press are mindful of the language used in their reporting (think “suspect”, “defendant” or “alleged”) they stoke the fire of opinion. Merely offering up a name in the same breath as ‘child abuse’ leads to trial by social media. The story carries like wildfire and is distorted beyond recognition. There’s already 7 pages of jokes on Sickipedia.
It seems moral censorship carries no currency in this society anymore. The person in question becomes a hate figure - vilified and ridiculed. There’s little to no consideration that the accusation might not stand up in court, or worse still be a hoax. Nope. We’re ready to rip their life apart and castrate them based upon the the scantiest evidence or detail. Even acquittal won’t put an end to it - our world-wide web won’t miraculously be cleansed of hate. If your child googles Rolf Harris for a school art project - all the grisly details will still be there for them to see.
I’m not saying the Rolf saga has no basis in fact - I’m just suspending judgement. As a mother, the Savile atrocities sicken me and it’s truly awful to think about just one person committing such vile and deplorable acts to innocent children. But with so many entertainers of the era being casually tossed into the frame (all conveniently searchable under the ‘Yewtree’ banner) there’s a culture of fear being carefully cultivated. One which, in today’s technological age, can’t ever be undone. Let us not forget that no actual charges have been brought against anyone so far.
I’m all for giving victims a voice and prosecuting to the full extent of the law when guilt has been proven - but it’s truly frightening when we consider that maybe, just maybe, even one of the accused might be innocent. That to me is just about as terrifying a criminal act as I can imagine.
Well said and very well written
Ha. Good post, but since when has journalistic code stood for anything? The media has fed the mob the filth that they crave regardless of fact for years; decades. The journalistic code consists of ‘never let the truth get in the way of a good story’; they want to sell papers not report the facts. I also will reserve judgement, and when I talk to my lad about Rolf Harris when he is older, it will be about his art, his music, and that funny program about pets. It won’t be about the scandal. Unless of course, he is proven guilty…
I hear you. They very fact they print stuff like this in the first place serves to place stories in the public consciousness. I’m all for freedom of the press and think this extends to everyone with a social media account too (who am I to blast people for making jokes and using inflammatory language? - I do it enough!) I just can’t help but think how utterly tragic it is that some of those named in this scandal might be entirely innocent. I don’t want to be part of the bear-baiting that goes on - I couldn’t live with myself. Imagine if someone accused me or a member of my family! I understand the police would need to check me out and take it seriously (I’d expect nothing less for such a sensitive and heinous allegation) but my life would be ruined if the press splashed my name willy nilly.