They’re just reporting what the prosecutors accused the person of and if the prosecutor didn’t use the term “statutory rape” then the reporters probably shouldn’t either.
They don’t want to get the reporting wrong if they aren’t experts on the subject and even more so the don’t want to expose themselves to lawsuits if they do get the reporting wrong.
I really don’t think the reporters are trying to minimize the heinousness of the crime (at least not in this case). It looks more like they are just being conservative in what they state.
That’s true but the same issue applies to both the article (which doesn’t use the term “statutory rape”), and the editor (who likely doesn’t have any legal expertise).
They’re not lawyers, though… they’re reporters.
They’re just reporting what the prosecutors accused the person of and if the prosecutor didn’t use the term “statutory rape” then the reporters probably shouldn’t either.
They don’t want to get the reporting wrong if they aren’t experts on the subject and even more so the don’t want to expose themselves to lawsuits if they do get the reporting wrong.
I really don’t think the reporters are trying to minimize the heinousness of the crime (at least not in this case). It looks more like they are just being conservative in what they state.
also; reporters dont write headlines
That’s true but the same issue applies to both the article (which doesn’t use the term “statutory rape”), and the editor (who likely doesn’t have any legal expertise).