MAP Forum

The stigma against persons with pedophilic interests (minor-attracted persons) leads to serious consequences for those affected, adds to the development of a sexual preference disorder (which is a sexual preference for children accompanied by psychological distress and/or risk for direct and indirect sexual behavior against children) and increases their risk of becoming offenders. One-sided media coverage maintains and reinforces the existing stigma by continuously and inadequately conflating minor-attracted persons with sexually abusive behavior against children. To destigmatize pedophilia and support non-offending minor-attracted persons, journalists have a great responsibility to portray pedophilia appropriately. Until now, nothing is known on the journalists’ knowledge and personal attitude of minor-attracted people. Therefore, this paper addresses the question of how journalists deal with the topic of pedophilia, in detail what they know about pedophilia, what attitudes and emotions are associated with the topic and what thoughts about prevention of child sexual abuse (CSA) journalists have. We conducted 11 qualitative interviews with journalists who had published at least one article on pedophilia or CSA within 2018. The transcripts were processed using qualitative content analysis. The results show that the interviewees largely defined pedophilia as consistent with scientific evidence but overestimated the risk for minor-attracted persons of becoming an offender. At the same time, many respondents were aware that persons who are not attracted to minors also abuse children sexually. Strong or negative feelings toward minor-attracted persons were reported only occasionally. Rather, the interviewees talked about sympathy as long as minor-attracted persons did not offend children. The interviewed journalists were generally open to a differentiated, evidence-based reporting, which could be a first step toward destigmatizing pedophilia, making supportive services known and, as a consequence, preventing CSA.

The interviewed journalists were generally open to a differentiated, evidence-based reporting, which could be a first step toward destigmatizing pedophilia, making supportive services known and, as a consequence, preventing CSA.