The Crux of the Media's Problem

I like the Christian Science Monitor. Here's an excerpt from a story this morning:

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa, it seems, is having an Anita Hill moment.

The country's former deputy president, Jacob Zuma, who aims to become president, is on trial for raping an HIV-positive family friend. And the case is playing out in the headlines before a polarized nation.

Back in 1991, Ms. Hill's allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas put sexual harassment in America's national spotlight. Likewise, the current case against Mr. Zuma is forcing South Africa to confront key elements of a culture of rape so pervasive that, on average, one woman is raped in this country every 26 seconds, according to People Opposing Women Abuse, a women's group here. It's one of the highest rape rates in the world.

Ok, I think this illustrates a couple of the problems with the press these days.

(1) "South Africa, it seems, is having an Anita Hill moment." Then the story goes on to discuss the "culture of rape" in South Africa. Is there really a comparison between a Supreme Court Justice's "alleged" dirty talk to a subordinate, and a South African Presidential candidate's "alleged" RAPE!! of a family friend. There's really no comparison: it's talking dirty versus destroying someone's life, boorish versus criminal behavior.

(2) "One woman is raped in this country every 26 seconds." Now, this may very well be true, but this doesn't pass the small test. A rape every 26 seconds in a country as small as South Africa? This reminds of the farbricated statistics around wife beatings during the Super Bowl: their emotional and grab your attention, but are pure rubbish. This article takes the statistic and runs with it, without so much as a cautionary note. That's poor journalism, but sadly, very common.