The media had 100% fell short on the Jeffrey Epstein story. The way the media covered the Epstein story, particularly in the early stages, had a significant impact on how the public understood the scope and severity of his crimes. Back in the early 2000s, there were two teenage girls who reported Epstein to the FBI because they couldn’t report to the local police where they were from due to the crimes being committed in another state. The FBI didn’t do a thing when they called and reported that they were assaulted. After that, the girls went to Vanity Fair to try to get the story out about what had happened, but the story was never released. Instead, a piece was written about how Epstein was this mystery man billionaire, and highlighted all of his elite friends and lavish lifestyle. In the years that followed, Epstein’s crimes received relatively little media attention, despite ongoing investigations and legal proceedings. It wasn’t until 2018, when the Miami Herald published an explosive investigative report on Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring, that the story gained widespread attention. The media’s coverage of the Epstein case has been criticized for downplaying the severity of his crimes and focusing too much on his wealth and connections. Some have also accused the media of failing to hold powerful people, who may have been involved in Epstein’s crimes, accountable.
Categories