Introduction The role of the journalist is pivotal in reporting sex offence cases. It's critical to understand that the media and the press in particular make and break reputations, sensationalize issues and create moral panics. This we know and when it is concerned with sex offences the press are always assured to be controversial and to some extent, some would believe, over the top. But as McNae quotes, "the media are the eyes and ears …showed first 75 words of 2256 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2256 total…say that the job of watching paedophiles is best left to the public services. We say the authorities have tried very hard, but 64% of paedophiles still re-offend." (News of the World 2000). Naming and Shaming is definitely an example to suggest that the law needs to be altered. The public needs to have some awareness but the extent to which was demonstrated by the News of the World is not the correct way to achieve this.