Today’s front page features coverage of a march through Athens and campus Friday that was organized by a student group seeking to change rape culture.
For those unaware, rape culture is often used by activists to describe the culture of a society in which attitudes and practices tolerate, even condone, rape and sexual violence.
The topic and their cause are obviously complex. While covering the group and its rally, Post reporters, photographers and editors encountered complexities of our own.
First, the group’s name:
F--kRapeCulture. Post editors and I discussed the name and decided to censor the expletive because we felt it was not newsworthy enough to leave uncensored.
Some have argued that the name contains a vulgar word to parallel the vulgarity of rape. We aren’t disputing that. But almost everyone who has been through middle school knows which two letters those dashes represent. We feel the meaning is still clear.
Second, we debated at length about which photograph would be printed alongside the article. Six Post photographers covered the event and returned with dozens of publishable photographs. However, several women marched topless while carrying a banner with the expletive.
We decided censoring the expletive in print but including a photograph with the word would be pointless. The photo also shows a topless woman with tape covering her nipples. We decided this photo did not prominently feature nudity, but also accurately described the event.
These decisions were tough and made after considerable debate. We want to balance bringing you the news while also respecting that many would not expect to read expletives or see nudity on the front page of The Post.
Ryan Clark is the editor-in-chief of The Post. Email him at rc348710@ohiou.edu.
