Monday, April 14, 2008

Tabloid headline of the year

When it comes to lurid sensationalism, the British are world-class:

Horror of the Texas child sex cult ranch
-- U.K. Mirror
For tacky tabs, you can't beat Fleet Street. The word "horror" is a real grabber in a headline, especially when combined with a sex-crime story.

But as far any verifiable news accounts are concerned, there was no "child sex" at the Texas FLDS cult compound. Teen sex, yes. Child sex, no -- at least unless you're applying "child" so broadly as to mean "minor."

The headline-writers at the Mirror surely saw the shock value of using the word "child," so they used it. It's not honest journalism, but it sells papers.

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