Most journalists now hope that every set of words they string together are deemed interesting enough to go viral.
For veteran columnist Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star, though, her coverage of the trial of a doctor accused of sexually assaulting sedated patients has gained notoriety on the grounds of having the worst introduction in history.
“She lost a womb but gained a penis” — the first sentence in DiManno’s column about accused anesthesiologist Dr. George Doodnaught — gained global attention throughout the weekend.
The second paragraph attempted to elaborate on the opening shocker.
“The former was being removed surgically — full hysterectomy — while the latter was forcibly shoved into her slack mouth.”
Online media outlets including BuzzFeed, Gawker and Jezebel relayed disbelief upon the discovery of such phrasing in Canada’s highest circulation newspaper.
A few thousand more comments on Facebook and Twitter were incredulous at the insensitivity toward the alleged victim being discussed.
Kathy English, the Star’s public editor, responds to the criticism, writing this:
“While I understand why you find the opening sentence of the column to be insensitive and demeaning to the woman who testified, I have corresponded with DiManno and I am assured there was no intention here to demean the woman or her testimony or make light of the circumstances. Rather, after sitting through all of the sordid, ugly evidence presented in court, she deliberately sought to reflect the grotesque nature of the alleged crime.
Rosie DiManno is one of the Star’s best and most prolific writers. DiManno covers many trials with difficult graphic evidence. While I personally concur with those readers critical of this column’s opening sentence, I think DiManno’s writing overall shows sensitivity and empathy for victims of horrific crimes. As managing editor Jane Davenport told me: “She is more likely than many columnists to walk close to the line in terms of detailing the nature of the crimes, but I think walking this line — balancing their dignity against the imperative ‘not to look away’ — is something she most often does with skill and care.”
Canadians seem to have a habit of chiming into these discussions to explain the appeal of specific writers from their home country. DiManno has worked for the Toronto Star since 1975.
The history of her courtroom-based columns aren’t known to international readers, though.
“I am assured there was no intention here to demean the woman or her testimony”
An item posted by MSN called DiManno “horrifyingly clueless” and expressed hope that she would lose her job over the wording.
Regular readers know that there is no chance of that happening — even if this was the most extreme example of her shock writing tactics.
A desire to get noticed online may have been a factor in ratcheting up the rhetoric.
Then again, DiManno went on the record last fall as a vigorous defender of a forthcoming plan to charge for online subscriptions to the Star rather than allow her work to be read for free.
The notoriously reclusive columnist may never get the chance to experience such viral notoriety again.
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