WTF Journalism

Another great moment in journalism from the Tampa Tribune. The first paragraph by writer Josh Poltilove shows a clueless understanding.

TAMPA - A Tampa man had consensual sex with a 12-year-old girl several times in recent months, Tampa police say.

A 12 year-old girl can not give sexual consent to a 18 year-old adult. That is why Mizraim Abiel Rivera-Ramos is being charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious batter. If Rivera-Ramos was 25 he would be charged with statutory rape.

Poltilove and the Tribune editors should ask themselves if a fifth-grader has the capacity and emotional maturity to consent to sex with an adult. Were they trying to make the story more titillating for sales? This piece boggles my mind.