Legal
AP stops naming suspects in minor crimes

The Associated Press, one of the largest news organizations in the world, announced Tuesday that it will stop publishing the names of suspects in minor or odd stories and won’t publish mugshots solely because of someone’s appearance.
“AP’s broad distribution network can make it difficult for the suspects named in such items to later gain employment or just move on in their lives,” John Daniszewski, the vice president of standards, said in a statement, adding that such stories have long lives on the internet.
As a result, Daniszewski said, the Associated Press will no longer include the name of suspects in brief stories about minor crimes when there’s little chance AP will provide additional coverage. This also applies to stories in which the details are considered odd.
“The names of suspects are generally not newsworthy beyond their local communities,” Daniszewski said. “We will not link from these stories to others that do name the person, and we will not move mugshots in these cases, since the accused would be identifiable by that photo as well.”
AP has also decided to stop publishing photos and stories which are driven solely by the suspect’s appearance. Such photos were sometimes used in mugshot galleries on local news websites, where the focus was on embarrassing photos rather than news value or public safety.
Lawyer and TV personality Eliza Orlins, who is a candidate for Manhattan District Attorney, called AP’s decision a “huge” move. “As a public defender, I’ve seen how stories in the press have ruined the lives of people I’ve represented even long after their cases have been dismissed,” she said.

-
World3 days ago
5 Al Jazeera journalists killed in Israeli strike in Gaza
-
US News3 days ago
Landslide triggers local tsunami in Southeast Alaska
-
World3 days ago
Strong earthquake hits western Turkey, killing at least 1
-
Legal7 days ago
Shots fired, home on fire in active situation in Glenwood, Iowa
-
Legal1 week ago
Cars set on fire, ‘Death to IDF’ graffiti found in St. Louis suburb
-
Politics1 week ago
U.S. to impose higher tariffs on India over support for Russia, Trump says
-
US News1 week ago
Plane crash in northeast Arizona kills 4 medical personnel
-
Breaking News1 hour ago
At least 2 deputies shot in active incident in southern Virginia