Blogger John in Carolina notices more efforts by The N&O to downplay its early irresponsible role in the Duke lacrosse hoax case, in this case a story by Ben Niolet in Sunday’s paper:

The charge against the lacrosse players was led by The Raleigh News & Observer when it “broke the Duke lacrosse story” with a March 24 story in which the N&O seven times called the accuser “the victim” or referred to her with the possessive “the victim’s.”

Thus, in the first Duke lacrosse story the public read, the N&O repeatedly told readers the accuser was the victim thereby framing the lacrosse players as her vicitmizers.

He points out that Durham DA Mike Nifong didn’t start spouting off to the media until March 27, after the race-class-gender template had been solidified by The N&O‘s take on the story.

I hold no brief for Nifong. He should be removed from office. What’s more, his official conduct should be examined with an eye toward criminal prosecution.

But Nifong didn’t go public about the case until AFTER the N&O had poisoned the public’s mind against the players and inflamed the community.

Niolet and his editors know that.

John’s view parallels mine.

Recently, several reporters, including The N&O‘s Joe Neff, who has done some fine reporting on the case, spoke at the National Press Club. Blogger LaShawn Barber was there. I emailed to ask her if The N&O‘s role in helping perpetrate the hoax early on ever came up in the questions. She said it didn’t. Consequently, The N&O looks like the courageous newspaper that never fell for the hoax, that fought hard for the rights of the accused and for due process. That’ll help in their Pulitzer entry, I guess.

But as JinC says, it wasn’t quite like that.

UPDATE: JinC says he’s found a “misspeak” in Neff’s Press Club appearance.