News Media Seeking Honest Reporting Or Exploitation Of
Sexworkers?
Intelligent exposure is good but if its too good it probably won't air
20/20 has posted notices trying to find sexworkers from the Internet to
interview. My hope is that 20/20 is a more honest news show such as 48 hours
was regarding swinging. But the risks are high for the people that speak out.
In late May, 2000, 48 hours did air a very balanced show that portrayed sex
and swinging with the positive messages being included not just edited out
as usual. News shows like 20/20 at least have the potential to present the
positive side than any talk shows which are more controlled by the "front
office" and advertisers.
20/20 has contacted many escorts, made postings on lists etc trying to get
interviews. Many well-spoken escorts have turned them down who could do a
very good job but have been warned of the legal exposure risk they also take.
Famous web escorts are high on the target list of vice cops to get a famous
notch on their belts. Previous sexworkers who have gone public have been harassed
by LE.
After their story aired, a polyamory couple had their child taken from them
for simply being in such a illicit place where the child had two loving fathers
instead of one. The child was evaluated as very normal by experts and of course
had no participation in polyamory, no abuse, nothing but two loving dads which
was the crime. Life has changed for the very worst for this couple all because
of the media exposure. And in sexwork it make you a high mark for the local
vice cops. Just ask Diana of Dallas who did an interview in Dallas mag, and
it included interviews with all the vice cops determined to get her. When
we live in a culture so repressive to consenting adult sexual rights, the
risk of being honest and open is just too great unless one is the "spectacle"
the media wants to portray sexworkers as.
I think it is very helpful to show sexworkers as not the drugged out street
whores which is what most people think of when they hear "prostitution". Intelligent
articulate representatives being interviewed in media could be very positive.
Especially if we are to ever have a hope for decriminalizing like in most
of the rest of the world.
On the other hand if an interview portrays something too positively it just
won't be aired or positive parts will be edited out, because the "front office"
knows the advertisers won't be pleased since they would be flooded with calls
from the religious right (oxymoron) folks. I've had many discussions with
media insiders that confirm this is common.
For example some of the polyamory folks from Lovemore had a very intelligent
discussion on Geraldo. But it never aired since it showed something that is
suppose to be immoral in a positive light.
So we are stuck with the fools and idiot Springer type shows which do nothing
but harm the public's image of alternative lifestyles or sexwork.
Sensationalism sells, not intelligent discussion of sexual issues.
The news media is out to make money for themselves no matter who gets hurt.
To them, sexworkers are just a means to that end. They'll tell you anything
they think you want to hear to get you to speak on the record, then you live
with the consequences when your made to look like a fool by the editing and
attacks by religious leaders etc, while they get up and do it all again to
somebody else for tomorrow's report.
A response from the infamous Diana of Dallas on 20/20's contacting her for
an interview. The article she refers to she was nice enough to send me as
we have been in contact over the years:
"I have also been contacted by 20/20. Once about 2 months ago and
again three times this week. Since I have stuck my neck out on several occasions
I can tell both sides. For Playboy TV they said they just wanted to know
my side of escorting and the Internet for the most part I was very happy
with the interview. Before that I did a interview with the largest local
magazine in Dallas. The story angle was how Escorts are "normal" girls and
you wouldn't know what I did for a living if you lived next to me since
I live a normal life i.e. cut grass, cook out, wash my car typical things
most do in life...The interview went well...asked the normal questions like,
how long have you been escorting, how well is the Internet for advertising...nothing
out of line.....the words call girl, prostitute and hooker NEVER came up
nor did the police or any legal agency. When the story came out the title
of the article was "The call girl and the cop" turns out that the article
was about me and a vice cop that has arrested 16 girls over the past 9 months
and has been after me for a LONG time and WILL get me sooner or later. I
had a great picture and the article was really interested but NOT at all
like I was told. Not to mention about a half a dozen mug shots of the girls
he's arrested already and a nice full page picture of the vice cop with
his swat outfit on and a ski mask with the caption saying "waiting for an
appointment with Diana" Now the 20/20 interview sounds really nice but I'm
not gambling with a national TV show with tons of Bible thumpers just waiting
to get on the band wagon and contact there local vice cops alerting what
they have now found on the Internet. They already have one girl doing the
interview so the show will go on. Just my thoughts! Diana http://www.dianaofdallas.com/
"
Dave concludes, my hope is that 20/20 is a more honest news show such as
48 hours was regarding swinging. But the risks are high for the people that
speak out. And many other media outlets will be looking to get these
interviews in the future.
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