Monday, May 12, 2014

Associated Press was wrong to use escaped Nigerian girl's name in story

I understand that the story of the 200 plus missing Nigerian girls is a major world wide news story. I understand that everyone is trying to come at it from as many angles as possible and that reporters want to interview the girls. I understand all that. But can anyone explain to me why an Associated Press story written by Haruna Umar and Michelle Faul used one of the escaped girls names?

Can someone explain to me why you would endanger a young girls life for a news story. Now that her name is out there what's to stop Boko Haram from coming to her village and retaking or killing her? Certainly not the Nigerian Army or local police. They have already shown themselves to be both incapable and unwilling to fight Boko Haram. The men of her village can't defend her against machine guns and RPGs of Boko Haram with machetes.

I not only blame the reporters but also the editors who in my opinion should have removed the girls name. Even if the girl had given her permission or asked that her name be used her name should not have been used. She's only 19! Boko Haram has shown that they will do whatever they want whenever they want and it seems that no one in Nigeria can do a thing to stop them. I pray nothing happens to this girl but the AP article just put a target on her back.

I know legally the AP has done nothing wrong but what about morally?

What do you think?

George Cook PoliticsandPolitricks.com

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