Don't shoot the messenger

July 31 2009, 1:18am

There has been understandable public interest in the revelation on Adelaide radio earlier this week that a 14-year-old girl claimed she had been raped at the age of 12.What's been most surprising about the incident is the attack on the radio announcers.The allegation itself has largely been forgotten amid the media sharks feeding on one of their own.Of course it's terrible to contemplate the innocence of a young girl being violated.And the mother's involvement in drawing out the information is questionable.However, it's an everyday risk of live radio that unexpected statements will be made, even shocking ones.The spontaneity of live radio is what entices many people to listen.On any given day of the week people make outlandish statements on commercial radio, some of which could be considered offensive.The "offensive" segments are often tame compared with what people of any age can find uncensored on the web.Kyle Sandilands admits he was left "floundering" by the girl's revelation and that he could have handled things better.His admission is no reason to pillory commercial radio in general or the announcers who found themselves confronted with an unexpected situation.The fact is the mainstream media reflects society back to itself.If all potentially controversial segments were removed from radio there wouldn't be much left.Instead of shooting the messenger, authorities should focus on the message.Help the girl and catch the offender.Suggesting the radio station should be shut down, as some have done, is an overreaction.