Reporting on Sexual Violence Matters: #MeToo Coverage Wins Pulitzers
By Laura Palumbo, NSVRC Communications Director
The Pulitzer Prizes, announced Tuesday, became the latest confirmation that we are in a watershed moment for sexual violence prevention. Three news organizations — the New York Times, New Yorker and Washington Post — received journalism’s highest honor for their reporting on high-profile cases of sexual violence and abuse.
Robust, accurate news coverage is essential to the fight against sexual violence, which still too often remains in the shadows and widely misunderstood. More than ever, media attention is reshaping the way Americans see this issue, and the wave of stories over the past six months has left an inedible mark on the national conversation about sexual harassment, assault, and abuse.
The dedication of significant investigative resources by these and other leading media companies shows that sexual violence is an issue of broad public concern and interest. We at NSVRC hope and believe that these awards will spur more newspapers, magazines, and television stations to give the stories of survivors the time and resources they deserve.
While the reporting that earned these awards spanned from New York to California to Alabama, covering victims from different walks of life, what these stories had in common was a determined, informed commitment to covering cases of sexual violence with depth, fairness, and accuracy.
The stories also had a real-world impact. Harvey Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and fired from the film studio he founded. Roy Moore lost his bid to become a United States Senator. This reporting was directly responsible for real and lasting change.
NSVRC is committed to serving as a resource for all media covering sexual violence. Our Journalist Tip Sheet provides guidance for reporters on how to cover this important issue in an informed, empathetic way, following in the footsteps of Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey, Ronan Farrow, Stephanie McCrummen, Beth Reinhard, Alice Crites, and the other deserving honorees.
Finally, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as we encourage everyone to Embrace Their Voice, a special thanks is due to the survivors who came forward in recent months to share their stories with journalists and with the public. The women who told the world about the actions of Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore, and countless others represent the promise of the change that can be brought about when you Embrace Your Voice.
