January 20, 2024
Dear Editor:
As Vermont’s first Child, Youth, and Family Advocate, I respected your story about Grace Welch and the abuse she suffered in Vermont’s child welfare system. I was surprised to see, less than a week later, your decision to print the name and picture of the fourteen-year-old charged with murder. In response to the multiple letters you received criticizing this decision, you have twice evaded the kind of thoughtfulness you gave to Grace. First, you noted that other publications had already published the picture. Then you said “there are no established practices and protocols” for how to cover such a story, which you contrasted with the “collective agreement” between police, prosecutors, and reporters to protect the anonymity of victims of sexual assault.
As you know, practices, protocols, and collective agreements don’t establish themselves on their own. They are the result of intentional choices, collaboration between entities, and the acceptance of responsibility for our actions as individuals and systemic actors. You clearly have established a practice and protocol: to print these names and pictures. You could change this practice instantly, joining VTDigger, Vermont Public, and other entities, which already have a policy of not printing the names and photos. As the Vermont legislature considers expanding the charges that could land a juvenile in adult court pre-adjudication, your response to these incidents is up to you. The Office of the Child, Youth, and Family Advocate respectfully asks that you immediately change course.
Thank you,
Matthew Bernstein
Child, Youth, and Family Advocate