CNN Reporter Arrested in Central Park, Most Media Ignore Sex Element

April 19th, 2008 1:05 PM

Imagine for a moment that a Fox News reporter was arrested in Central Park early in the morning with a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals. Do you think this little nuance would be included in press coverage of this bizarre event?

Probably in the headline and the opening paragraph, right?

Well, for some reason, though news outlets did report the odd happenings in NYC Friday morning when CNN's Richard Quest was officially arrested for loitering and drug possession, from what I can tell, only the New York Post included the "kinky" elements in its article Saturday (emphasis added, h/t NBer Gat New York, picture courtesy CNN):

CNN personality Richard Quest was busted in Central Park early yesterday with some drugs in his pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot, law-enforcement sources said. [...]

Quest was initially busted for loitering, the source said. Aside from the oddly configured rope, the search also turned up a sex toy inside of his boot, and a small bag of methamphetamine in his left jacket pocket. [...]

He was charged with loitering and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His unusual get-up didn't lead to a lewdness charge because he wasn't exposing himself, the police source said.

Yikes!

Now, take a look at reports by the New York Times, the Associated Press, Reuters, the New York Daily News, and the Seattle Times. See if you can find any reference to the rope or the sex toy.

None there, correct?

And this despite the following claims by CNN in his official bio:

Richard Quest is one of the most instantly recognizable members of the CNN team; covering an extensive range of breaking news and business stories, as well as feature programming, he has become one of the network’s highest profile presenters.

In fact, this month CNN is featuring Quest traveling the globe to meet some of the world's most honored women:

Join CNN's Richard Quest this month as he meets the most famous dames of them all in his "Quest for an Honour."

Let's hope he leaves the rope home.

That said, why did news agencies other than the Post boycott the rope and the sex toy? And, will this be covered by television news agencies in the coming days?

Stay tuned.