Jury’s Not Guilty Verdict in McMartin Pre-School Case

Staff writer David Shaw’s indictment of the media coverage of the McMartin case is a masterpiece of journalistic analysis and should be nominated for a prize (Part A, Jan. 19-22).

If ever television and newspaper reporters have had a better reason to hang their heads in shame, I haven’t seen it. The press’ amplification of Deputy Dist. Atty. Eleanor Barrett’s claim that “millions” of kiddie porn photos had been taken, and its subsequent failure to follow up the fact that, despite an exhaustive search, not a single picture was ever found, is just one of many examples of unforgivable media negligence. This example also reveals another fact of journalistic life. Claiming that such photos exist is headline-grabbing; discovering that they don’t is boring, even disappointing. And it’s headlines that sell newspapers.

Fortunately, the jury in a criminal trial must base its decision exclusively on the validity of evidence presented in court, not on media sensationalism. Unfortunately, the public forms its opinion exclusively from that media coverage. The widespread outrage over the acquittal of Ray Buckey and his mother is a vivid reminder of the enormous power of the press to shape public opinion. It is also a sobering reminder of the media’s responsibility to report accurately and fairly.

FOREST G. WOOD

Bakersfield