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MNHQ have commented on this thread

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MNHQ have commented on this thread

AIBU?

To be really annoyed at BBC News.

46 replies

kirstys23 · 20/02/2013 18:38

While reporting on the trial of the 9 men in Oxford who groomed and raped young girls they told about an 12 year old girl who the gang forced to have a back street abortion when she became pregnant. The news reader told how the girl was groomed by one of the men and 'went on to have a sexual relationship with him.'

Surely a 12 year old girl cannot have a 'sexual relationship' with a man? AIBU to think BBC was wrong to use these terms and should have said 'rape' or 'abuse' instead?

OP posts:

Report

RowanMumsnet · 04/03/2013 14:18

Hello

Sorry to be late to reply to this one - didn't want to break an embargo! - but as you'll see from this thread, our We Believe You partners over at Barnardo's are doing some work in this area already; do please hit the link in the other thread and go and sign the petition if this is something you feel strongly about.

Given that Barnardo's are already campaigning in this area it seems best not to double-do, but we will keep an eye out for ways we can help them out and generally make noise about it.

Thanks
MNHQ

hiddenhome · 22/02/2013 18:07

They're at it again if anyone's interested. Radio 4 news reporting that this 11 year old girl was in a 'relationship' with one of the accused

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 20/02/2013 21:38

But I do agree with the idea for a campaign, there are the daily fail many places that word it like this is the fault of the children who are victims and it is very wrong.

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 20/02/2013 21:36

I've looked on the BBC website and they couldn't come across more serious about it, they talk about her being used as a sex slave, raped and say that they "arranged for men to rape her" not that she was prostituted.

I think it's just because it was on daytime TV.

Overreactionoftheweek · 20/02/2013 21:31

I'm a broadcast journalist and for taste and decency reasons, we have to say different things on air (tv or radio) to what you read online or in the paper - the idea is that it's more shocking to hear someone say something than for you to read it, plus children might hear it on the school run or something.

I do agree with you about the use of the word 'relationship', it's completely wrong in this context, but it's not evidence of a conspiracy or of any attempt to blame the victims. Working in a newsroom, I can promise you that doesn't happen.

MamaMary · 20/02/2013 21:09

OP, you are right. It saddens me that anyone, let alone the BBC, could report child abuse and rape in this way. It is minimising a crime.

MardyBraWouldDoEddieRedmayne · 20/02/2013 21:01

I was also pretty when during the Jimmy Savile scandal, Jeremy Vine read out listener comments that the girls involved had a tendency to "throw themselves" at DJs, and it was therefore understandable if the celebrity could not control themselves and took advantage of it.

kirstys23 · 20/02/2013 20:56

It will be interesting to see if the same language is used repeated on the ten o'clock news. Will somebody let me know if they hear it. DP has insisted we put National Treasure: Book of secrets on

OP posts:

thebody · 20/02/2013 20:55

Under thinking is a great phrase. MN please think this over seriously.

MardyBraWouldDoEddieRedmayne · 20/02/2013 20:52

I agree, but won't report.

I love "underthinking".

wonderwoman2012 · 20/02/2013 20:51

Not sure they really do want to lower the age limit but she was abused and raped. Who ever wrote the script on that was on the autoqueue should be sackes. And surely someone should check what is being read out. If so sack them too.

MidnightMasquerader · 20/02/2013 20:49

Under-thinking is a perennial problem...

IfNotNowThenWhen · 20/02/2013 20:48

I like the idea of "under-thinking". So many people do under-think.
Wording matters.

cocoachannel · 20/02/2013 20:48

Thanks Olivia, and for the email. Sorry to bother you during the evening!

MidnightMasquerader · 20/02/2013 20:45

Oh gosh, it really grinds my gears when someone comes onto a thread likes this and accuses people of 'over-thinking' or 'over-analysing'...

No. This is important.

You're under-thinking.

cocoachannel · 20/02/2013 20:44

That's why I think we have to speak as a collective HH. As individuals we may have no power but as Mumsnet we do. (And Woman's Hour has confirmed this!).

gordyslovesheep · 20/02/2013 20:43

opps - sorry Olivia !

OliviaMumsnet · 20/02/2013 20:42

@cocoachannel

I will report my post in hope!

Thanks for these - just posting to let you know we have seen this and will have a think about it - no need for anyone else to report it.

hiddenhome · 20/02/2013 20:40

I know Any, but I just feel that they haven't made this mistake by accident and there's something bigger going on here I think we're fighting against the tide tbh. I think I remember hearing similiar wording when the reporting about the Bradford girls was going on. It's sick, I agree, but so are those at the top.

gordyslovesheep · 20/02/2013 20:40

12 and under can not legally consent to sex so it is rape not a 'sexual relationship' it is child abuse not 'prostitution' and I agree a MN campaign would be good.

IfNotNowThenWhen · 20/02/2013 20:39

This reminds me of a comment my mum once made regarding the husband of a fanily friend. She said "he had an affair with his step daughter".
The girl was maybe 13 when the "affair" began.
Er, no mum, he groomed her, and sexually abused her.
Sickening.
I will complain too.

AnyFucker · 20/02/2013 20:37

HH, and nothing will change if people don't stand up and be counted

Viviennemary · 20/02/2013 20:37

I have said this before. The whole subject of underage sex needs looking at and legislating for again. A 12 year old is a child and should be protected.

Wewereherefirst · 20/02/2013 20:33

That's horrible wording, the girl was raped. Being raped is not the same as a sexual relationship. It is the total opposite.

hiddenhome · 20/02/2013 20:31

They won't care if you report this.

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