Letter to the Editor: Kenyon Trial Coverage
Kenyon Trial Coverage
After reading the coverage of the Kenyon Trial in the Potter Leader in September of 2010, I wrote and offered my opinion which the Potter Leader did not publish. After Mr. Kenyon entered his plea of No Contest I wrote and offered my opinion once again which was published in the June 1 edition. This was only done as a result of complaining to those ultimately responsible for the operation of the Potter Leader. The letter that they printed was reduced by half with my reluctant consent.
Ms. Hoak has subsequently written an eloquent response printed in the June 8 edition entitled “What I Did” in which she responds to my assertion that she was a friend of the Kenyons and makes a couple of petty accusations. I notice she did not offer an explanation for neglecting to mention ONE WORD of Kevin Kenyon’s testimony. She is a court reporter who covers criminal trials, and the most critical, pivotal moment that can occur in a criminal trial, when the defendant takes the stand himself to explain his actions, is ignored by this seasoned professional. One must ask why.
Thus I offer these uncontested facts and admissions again, along with the second portion of my original letter to the Potter Leader , which Coudy News has so graciously agreed to publish. Please note, NONE of the following facts was thought worthy to be reported by Ms. Hoak.
Mr. Kenyon admitted to laying in bed with the girls every night while putting them to sleep without Mrs. Kenyon ever being present.
He admitted to kissing them on their necks, chests, and stomachs.
He admitted to regularly bathing them without Mrs. Kenyon being present.
When Mr. Kenyon was asked by his attorney if he were ever aroused in the presence of his daughters, he answered “Not that I can recall.”
He admitted to nibbling on the ear of his 15yr old daughter on a motorcycle ride.
Mrs. Kenyon stated to a State Trooper “I knew something was going on but not to this extent.”
When Mrs. Kenyon was asked what she would do if the charges against her husband were true, she responded “I would make him sleep on the couch.”
When Mrs. Kenyon was asked by her Brother if the charges were true, she responded “I don’t know.”
Mrs. Kenyon’s Brother, an attorney, was so bothered by the bedtime routine he witnessed that he confronted his sister on it.
I understand that there is a code of ethics in Journalism which includes elements such as truthfulness, impartiality, and fairness. Another element, equally important, is “the limitation of harm”. We have all read news stories from many distinguished publications and noticed that the victims of sex crimes most often are not named out of concern for their privacy. The Society of Professional Journalists website states that journalists should “Be cautious about identifying juvenile suspects or victims of sex crimes”, “Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage”, recognize that “only an overriding public need can justify intrusion into anyone’s privacy” and appropriately, “Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance.”
As all the other elements were glaringly absent from her article as well I suppose I should not have been shocked but I was. The abuse of the girls began when they were ten and eleven years old and yet Ms. Hoak felt free to name them on the front page of the paper, though she was careful to protect the identity of three supposed jurors whom she quotes, one at great length.
What harm would have occurred if the victims names were left out of the article? None. This is precisely why I believe she included them. It is my opinion that Ms. Hoak had an agenda to not only attempt to prove that the charges against Kevin Kenyon were false but to portray the girls as liars. She could not let the facts interfere.
In regard to anonymous sources, Al Neuharth, Founder of USA Today writes: “The anonymous source, if in fact one exists, generally is a coward who tells more than he or she knows. The reporter permitted to use such sources often writes more than he or she hears. The only sure way to separate fact from fiction is to ban all anonymous sources. If your newspaper uses them, be very, very skeptical.”
One would be hard pressed to find an ethical journalist, much less a news organization, which would allow an anonymous juror to be quoted in the manner that was done in this article. Obviously those working for an organization are a reflection of that organization. As to Ms. Hoaks irresponsible and shameful writing, the Potter Leader is the lesser for it, as is the community you purport to serve. Both contributed to victimizing yet again the most vulnerable among us.
Kevin Maher
