Kenny Bodanis questions why Jerry Sandusky should be given a platform to tell “his side of the story?”
The following blurb appeared in the Montreal Gazette’s sports section this morning. It was, no doubt, picked up from an American wire service:
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Sandusky to Tell His Story on NBC
State College, PA.
NBC says it will air an interview with former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky Monday on the Today Show. NBC says the convicted sex offender will give his account of the encounters that landed him in prison and discuss former boss Joe Paterno. Sandusky is serving a 30 to 60 year prison term for 45 counts of child sexual abuse.
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Who is the target audience for this interview? Who just can’t wait to hear this pedophile give “his account of the encounters” he had with children?
What do people expect to hear? Details? Excuses? Apologies? Blame?
What has this creep done to deserve a national platform through which he can give his side of the story?
If he cries on air, I might throw up.
This seems to be mass media’s new modus operandi – crowding around felons, deceivers, and deviants hoping for that shocking morsel which will become a viral clip on YouTube, carrying their ratings through sweeps week.
It is sickening to imagine the celebration and congratulations which probably took place during the production meeting when the Today Show learned they scored this interview: “Good job, everyone!”
Whatever “explanation” Sandusky may give for his actions, will come from the mouth of a liar who was able to scare dozens of abused students into silence year after year.
Sandusky deserves nothing more than that same isolation, in a cell, for the next 60 years.
Photo: AP/Matt Rourke
Well, I don’t trust the motivations of the media, ever really. But I think we need to understand that their motivations for interviewing Sandusky are the same as they were for covering the trial in the first place. Ratings. Personally I didn’t watch any of the coverage of this or the other recent high profile sexual assault case. I gleaned the details from various sources and that was enough for me to formulate questions that I knew the sensationalist coverage was not likely to answer. Why do people offend in this way? What are they thinking? What can we do… Read more »
I agree, understanding criminals’ motivations behind their crimes may help prevent such actions in the future. However, giving a pedophile a national platform to voice his perspective to a morning show anchor (as opposed to a psychiatrist) will result in no new, and no usable information. pedophiles, by nature, are liars, and master manipulators. If we really want to learn anything from Jerry, we should listen to his victims, to understand what words and actions their abuser learned to create his atmosphere of fear and submission. Or we could listen to a psychiatrist, or other specialist, who may provide some… Read more »
The reason the Today Show is so connected is simple–they have no football to show anymore so they have resorted to showing Notre Dame football in the fall. Plus, remember that this is the same network with very Catholic anchors, Chris Matthews and the late Tim Russert.( I am not, in any way saying that either man, nor their families, ever would or did condone this steaming pile’s actions or the cover-up of the university). No matter how vulgar and revolting this whole business is, they know it all comes down to money and ratings. If Donald Trump’s association with… Read more »
This is wrong on so many levels. NBC’s desire to air sensationalist material is repulsive. If he wanted to give his side of the story he should have done it in court. Giving a convicted pedophile a national platform to deny the abuse experienced by so many young men is simply adding further trauma to what they have already experienced. I work with survivors of sexual trauma, both male and female, so I know how deeply wounded these young men are, and will continue to be for many years. For a national tv show to intentionally re-traumatize them is unconscionable.… Read more »
Agreed…and there are so many sociopathic liars still out there with the faces of our mentors, teachers, priests, neighbors, and relatives shaking their heads at Sandusky while secretly plotting their next move….People like him are here, there, and everywhere…many of them not behind bars… My abuser is still out there in a very prestigious position…many people still look up to him and clamor for his advice….I’m sure if I confronted him with what he did he would twist it around and paint a completely different picture from the truth…psychopaths look like normal people….kids need to be aware that anybody, even… Read more »