TYSON TOOK STAND AND THE FRONT PAGE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 14, 1992                   TAG: 9202140453
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
TYSON TOOK STAND AND THE FRONT PAGE
I FIND it extremely offensive that this newspaper, along with many others, carried the prosecution's case in the Tyson rape trial in the sports section. This would not have been as offensive if Tyson's testimony had also been in the sports section. However, as soon as he took the stand, the story became front-page news.
Is the Roanoke Times & World-News sending a subliminal message to its readers? Rape is not a sport! If the victim's testimony did not deserve front-page coverage, then Tyson's did not. How many readers only read Tyson's version of what happened because the front page is read over coffee and the sports page lines the garbage can? CAROL SCHWARTZ MARION

Editor's note: The first front-page story concerned his accuser's trial testimony. Other coverage appeared there or in the sports section, depending on developments.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB