No Laughing Matter

Analysis:

This story is a display of how news outlets can do damage to the community. It is reported that a man breaks into the homes of elderly woman and touches them wearing no clothes. Now the story says he touches their toes, which would not qualify as Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC), but clearly there are crimes being committed, both Breaking & Entering and Indecent Exposure. What is disturbing about how this story was reported is that both news readers laughed during the story and used questionable voice inflections throughout the story.

Story:

WZZM 13 Newsreader #1 – In Florida, Police are looking for a looking for an unusual suspect in New Smyrna Beach tonight. Now get this, for the last four years a naked serial tickler has been targeting elderly women over the summer. Authorities say he breaks in their homes, and tickles their toes while they are asleep. All the while, he is in the nude. No one has been able to give a good description of the man other than he’s always running away wearing nothing but a ponytail. Now that is some fetish.

Newsreader #2 – I know that the police that are on foot patrol…

Newsreader #1 – (laughing)

Newsreader #2- …are hoping to nail him.

Newsreader #1 – They’re watching. Oh goodness.

Total Time: 35 seconds