A Bit More Slanting of the News

[Bruzilla]

We've had two cases of sexual crimes down here in Florida recently, and as I was watching the morning news today I noticed how different the coverage was between the two cases. One case was the convicted sex offender, Frederick Fretz, who got out of prison and kidnapped an 11-yr old boy. The second case was of a school teacher, Debra LaFave, who had sex on several occasions with one of her 14-year old students.

Everytime the Fretz case is discussed, the news shows down here always show a couple of his worst pictures, usually arrest mug shots or that god-awful driver's license photo that's been shown everywhere. But when the LaFavre story is discussed, they always show very flattering pictures. This girl is a total "babe", and the news people never seem to be able to show enough wedding pictures, pictures in a revealing top, etc., of this woman. They never show a mug shot, or any picture where she isn't looking hot. They're obviously going for the sexual titillation angle.

I get the feeling that if it were Donald LaFave having sex with a student, all we would see is a picture of his arrest photo.

 

[Sharon]

Compared to most people her mugshot isn't so bad.

 

[Tonio]

They're obviously going for the sexual titillation angle.

Of course. The male reporters won't admit it, but they probably wish they could score with their sexy teachers when they were 14. And they believe the male viewers have that same wish. At least when Elliott on DC101 discusses stuff like this, he's honest about having that wish. If LaFave looked like Tony Siragusa, she'd be getting the same news treatment as Fretz.

 

[Lenny]

Compared to most people her mugshot isn't so bad.

Makes ya want to go back to middle school and have to stay after school.

It could have been Adrianne Hockett : http://www.mugshots.com/Hall of Shame/Adrianne+Hockett.htm

Amber Williams : http://www.mugshots.com/Hall of Shame/Amber+Williams.htm

or better yet, Barbara Biddleman ; http://www.mugshots.com/Hall of Shame/Barbara+Biddleman.htm

Sheesh, will it never end?

 

[Railroad]

I had a discussion about this once before (another forum). I said that I think the press have been programmed to sensationalize the news - simply reporting it won't work. I used the comparison of the boring teachers in school vs. the ones who held your attention. The difference? Salesmanship to dress up the facts and get your attention. In this case, the hottie got people's attention and they actually watched the news.

 

[RoseRed]

Here's another...

 

[Voter2002]

Of course, let's not forget the most famous of all -

http://www.crimelibrary.com/criminal_mind/psychology/marykay_letourneau/1.html

 

[Bruzilla]

And it keeps on going... the news just did a lengthy interview with LaFave's husband, who was married to her for six months before she started her new homework assignments. Another chance to run the pics of her and talk about her sex life. I haven't seen any reports on Fretz's former relationships.