Just giving a shout to Fox 5 Atlanta reporter Jaclyn Schultz for tweeting about a violent sexual predator on the loose in Atlanta. I see sooo many tweets by reporters that say “Woman was assaulted” … using language that makes no mention of the person who did the assaulting. My friend and mentor, Claudia Bayliff, calls that “The Invisible Perpetrator,” and it’s a pervasive issue in how media covers sexual violence.
Jaclyn used specific, graphic and accurate language to describe the offender, the nature of the assault and its severity. And for that, I grant her this week’s A+ grade. You are a rare jewel, Jaclyn!