Pandering to people's interest in sex

[Free Press Editor Joe Spear]

On Thursday, Jan. 29, The Free Press published a short news item on who a man and woman who were caught on the city's video camera on a bus shelter having sex. They were cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct. The short item had 1,600 page views on The Free Press web site that day, and 1,800 to date, numbers that are higher than average. We did not publish their names since we normally do not publish names of those convicted of misdemeanors. But we published the news thinking people would be find it entertaining and to be a "talker." Are we pandering or is this legit news?

[Ben Willaert]

Our society has such a taboo fascination with sex. We are like kids at a horror show with our hands over our eyes, while peeking through our fingers. Is the media responsible for our obsession with sex, or are they just giving us what we want? It's comparable to the age old question: “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?”

This article seems to be tastefully done and has legitimacy in reporting of the control the police have over the downtown area. A message has been sent to others that think they can get away with deviant and/or lewd behavior. Sticking to the policy of not publishing the names also gives more respect to the article.

Pandering would include an image from the surveillance video along with links to other public sex incidents around the state or country. There could even be an interview with a neighbor of the perpetrator’s that often hears the bed squeaking all night long. And then of course, there would have to be some reference to Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton.