Civil Rights Advocates Push for “Right to Be Forgotten” in Media Coverage
Civil rights advocates have long fought to free people from their criminal records, but a new push is underway to address the lasting impact of old media coverage. A handful of local newspapers across the US have launched programs to review their archives and consider requests to remove names or delete old stories to protect the privacy of subjects involved in minor crimes.
The concept, known as “right to be forgotten,” was pioneered by Chris Quinn, editor of Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer newspaper. Quinn’s program, launched in 2018, allows for the removal of names and stories from archives, with certain exceptions, such as cases of violence, sex offenses, and corruption.
The effort has since spread to other newsrooms, including the Boston Globe, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Bangor Daily News, the Oregonian, and NJ.com. The programs have been motivated by the many inquiries Quinn receives from subjects describing the harms of past crime coverage and pleading for deletion.
The Oregonian, for example, has a “clean slate” program that allows for the removal of mugshots, names, or entire stories. The paper’s editor, Therese Bottomly, notes that the vast majority of people in state prison will eventually be released and should be given a chance to reintegrate into society without the burden of old media coverage.
The programs have also inspired newsrooms to be more deliberate in their current coverage, leaving names out when not relevant and thinking through the consequences of photos in crime stories. Saun Hough, director of partnerships for Californians for Safety and Justice, notes that crime stories often lack context about a person’s traumas or struggles that led to the incident, creating a constant sense of anxiety for those affected.
The “right to be forgotten” movement is a critical step towards addressing the lasting impact of old media coverage and giving people a second chance at a fresh start.
