About the Author:
About the Author:
Helen Benedict is Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University. Her articles on rape and sexual assault have been published widely in newspapers and magazines, and she is the author of several books, including Recovery: How to Survive Sexual Assault, Portraits in Print, and A World Like This.
Review:
"Helen Benedict calmly and crisply dissects the way misogyny and ignorance shape media coverage of crimes of sexual violence--biases that have increased during the past decade....A great gift for the journalists on your list--and to go by recent headlines, the judges and senators,
too."--Kathqa Pollitt, The Nation
"Makes a powerful case for a new approach to the coverage of sex crimes by daily newspapers."--The New York Times Book Review
"This outstanding book should be required reading for all media people."--Publishers Weekly
"An essential purchase for communications and women's studies collections."--Library Journal
"Helen Benedict brilliantly analyzes the many ways in which the media perpetuates myths and stereotypes about rape. Elegantly written and carefully documented, Virgin or Vamp should be required reading for journalists -- and the rest of us."--Katha Pollitt, writer, The Nation
"Helen Benedict has done a fine job in uncovering bias and misinformation in news reports of some well-known rape cases. Virgin or Vamp will be a valuable aid wherever journalism is taught."--Susan Brownmiller, author of Against Our Will: Men, Women, and Rape
"Long Dong Silver. The rape trials of Willie Smith and Mike Tyson. Harassment and violence against women are more reported than ever, but public response, including press coverage reveals that many people still believe women provoke abuse--that punishment is their deserved condition. Helen
Benedict's Virgin or Vamp could not be more timely and tough-minded. She peels back the myths that steer supposed objective journalism, never stinting on lively prose of the hidden injuries to women."--Laurie Stone, columnist, Village Voice
"Since Helen Benedict is both an authority on rape and a distinguished journalist, she is uniquely qualified to examine how journalists usually cover sex crimes. Her analysis of the biases and blunders of the press is thorough, lucid, and utterly persuasive....Virgin or Vamp is an exceedingly
important book--necessary reading for conscientious reporters and editors, and for everyone concerned about the quality and fairness of what the press sees fit to print."--Ann Jones, author of Women Who Kill
"Intelligently conceived, structured and delivered....Drawing on her knowledge of newsroom habits and the newsgathering process, Benedict effectively advocates balance and more thoughtful analysis in sex-crime reporting, the elimination of sexist vocabulary, rape training for reporters, the
hiring of more female and black crime reporters, and an end to blaming the victim....Victim or Vamp indicts America's anti-female culture as much as its press, and takes a strong step toward much-needed rehabilitation."--St. Petersburg Times
"Few recent books may be as important to the pratice of journalism as Virgin or Vamp, Helen Benedict's sobering lucid and often infuriating examination of how victims of rape are treated by the press....Her suggestions for reform, succinctly taken up in the last 15 pages of the book, should be
required reading for editors and reporters alike."--Quill
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