Quote:
Effective immediately, do not identify crime victims unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
There often is a compelling reason, as in a homicide or highly visible or gruesome crime.
More often, there is not, especially in three- and four-paragraph crime briefs that we dash off by rewriting press releases. If we’ve deemed a crime story worthy of only three paragraphs, then by definition the facts don’t merit identifying the victims.
In place of a name, use gender, age and town of residence, as in a 20-year-old Greensboro woman or a 48-year-old High Point man.
[
Greensboro News & Record via Jim Romenesko]
That way, you can guarantee grief when another 20-year-old Greensboro woman or 48-year-old High Point man who wasn't mugged, groped or the victim of a vandal reads the story.