Thanks, Helen.

That this woman was sexually assaulted/raped, whatever, is not just downplayed, it doesn't even exist in the Daily News story. Until I read your post, then read the Inq. story, I had no idea. (And even the Inq. story that has it, has it at the very end of the story.)

Your points are well taken but you can give a link to an article reporting that she was raped/assaulted? All I can find is speculation that she was "molested."

once again the editing on philly.com's front page is really questionable.

It's like with their stupid "Bonnie and Clyde" story finally put to bed, they needed another excuse for titillating photographs on the top of the page, and who cares if it's a victim this time.

Not to get all gray-haired about it, but there was a time when the Inquirer, at least, was actively competing with the Times and the Post for journalistic excellence, often sweeping up more Pulitzers in a year than one or either. That was under Gene Roberts, who ended up at the Times.

Now it's competing with supermarket tabloids.

The lack of competition really sucks sometimes.

Thanks to Helen for pointing it out.

I suspect that much of the reason that the sexual assault of Edythe Maa (the young lady's real name) is being understated is that, quite simply, since she was working in the sex trade, the perception is that, you guessed it, 'she was asking for it.' This is only a slight variation of the old rapists' defense of 'she was wearing a short skirt,' etc.

-Z

Talk about sensationalism.

Do the readers come away from the article remembering that "the Jade Vixen" was a PhD UPenn graduate? That her husband, the slain victim, was a lawyer?

You'll find mentally-unstable stalkers in S&M clubs, church groups, community meetings, and book clubs. The implication that "she was asking for it" is horrendous.

---
- All politics is local.

Sadly, the articles Helen mentions do nothing more than propogate the "she was asking for it" or "justification" notion that we need to continue to move away from.

What is more upsetting is that I believe the "freak show" as Dan describes it is actually more damaging than an overt "justification." Why? A journalist could never argue "she was asking for it." The editorial board, the remaining media and the public would be outraged.

However, the implied "justification" is more damaging because the vast majority of readers will not challenge the assertions made by the journalist. Instead they will ignore the crimes against Ms. Maa and focus on her personal life or what they see in this gallery.

The Jade Vixen Gallery should come down because it creates an "implied justification" that there should be no room for. Also, it should come down for no other reason than it makes a mockery of the true damage that has been caused to Ms. Maa or Mr. Ottaviano's family.

Let's hope the victims of sex crimes recieve better and more responsible treatment from the legal system than the treatment Ms. Maa has recieved from philly.com.

I had no idea she was sexually assaulted! And I definitely agree with you about the photos, Helen. I noticed the same thing (and thought how similar it was to philly.com's treatment of Jocelyn Kirsch. But, controversy does sell.

www.phillygrrl.wordpress.com

As someone who knows "Jade Vixen" and Krieg very well, there are some pertinent facts that have been left out.
Unfortunately, Edythe's greed is almost as culpable in this tragedy
as Kreig's mental instability is.
Edythe was 100% fully aware of how mentally unstable Kreig was and kept stringing him a long.
Even after Kreig harassed and threatened violence on a friend and afellow Dominatrix in Philadelphia.
this past summer. Why you may ask?
Kreig was very wealthy from an inheritance and paid "Mistress Jade" around four to five thousand dollars a month. It may be more.
There were many instances of extremely bizarre and violent behavior from Kreig and she just kept stringing him a long.I told
her it was very obvious how unstable and dangerous he was and she agreed.
I asked: "Why?"
She replied "The money is more than worth it obviously"
Yes, she is a victim but this could have all been avoided if she resisted the lure of money and had cut the ties with Krieg a long time ago.

This is very tragic indeed.

Dear "Real Truth": While you're entitled to your opinions of the victims, this isn't a gossip column.

This post is about media issues regarding a case in which a woman (no matter her career or profession or what her acquaintances think of her) was a victim of sexual violence and is having suggestive photos posted on the Inquirer/Daily News website - accompanied by stories in which the crime is secondary to her profession. That's the issue.

I am sure plenty of people beyond yourself know Ms. Maa, but none of us here are commenting on who she is, or what she does or why and how she does it. The issue is what the media is doing in exploiting a victim of a violent assault like it's entertainment for the masses.

I just want to point out that running along the bottom of the page under any story there are 5 photo slideshows at this moment.

3 are 1. pictures of an Eagles ex-playboy model wife, 2. pictures of "Jade Vixen", 3. pictures of Jocelyn Kirsch aka "Bonnie" (wasn't she sentenced and um old news like a month ago)

One is the Phillies parade (also a month ago)

One is photos of Christmas light displays from around the world.

Philly.com going 5 for 5 in terms of keeping it classy and focused on journalistic integrity.

On second thought I guess it could be worse. They could pull the Christmas lights to run pictures of Alycia Lane.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.

for removing the "Jade Vixen"/Edythe Maa photo gallery both from running along the bottom of the philly.com homepage and from the links to the news stories.