Unnamed No More
Last week, I wrote about CBS News' policy concerning whether or not to name the 16-year-old boy arrested in connection with the murder of Pamela Vitale. At the time, CBS elected not to name the boy, despite the fact that some news organizations were doing so. Linda Mason, CBS News Senior Vice President, Standards and Special Projects, explained the policy:
Adults we do sometimes identify, but juveniles – we protect them, especially when law enforcement says they're not going to use their name…The issue is not that they did or did not do it. The issue is that they're kids. Just as there are juvenile courts, we make a distinction with kids under 18.
Now, however, CBS News, like most other media outlets, is using the boy's name. Here is the second sentence in today's piece on the Vitale murder, which is now appearing on the CBSNews.com website:
16-year-old Scott Dyleski, who's accused of killing Vitale, will be tried as an adult.
The story goes on to give background about Dyleski's family and personal life, and includes a photo of the boy. I asked Mike Sims, director of News and Operations at CBSNews.com, to explain the change.
"In discussions with Linda Mason, it was determined that if he was charged as an adult, we would name him. And since he was charged, we did so," said Sims. He added, "The fact that he's facing adult charges as opposed to juvenile charges – which in many states are expunged or held privately – makes it a different ballgame."
Certainly, the fact that law enforcement officers are now using Dyleski's name, and the fact that his records are now public, does change the ballgame. But the change also raises the question: When a 16-year-old becomes an adult in the eyes of the law, is the media right to follow?