Press: When News Becomes Voyeurism

Live cable coverage of a rape trial redefines journalism

The words that came into millions of American households last week told a story as tawdry as any soap opera, in language sometimes more explicit than any prime-time series: "I put my hands inside her pants and she unbuttoned her button . . . The two of us fell to the floor. She was laughing, I was laughing, I started pulling her pants. She was willing . . . Three or four—I don't know—people were around ... I heard from behind me for us to go...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!