05/21/2026
Last fall, the New York Times magazine published a story about the commercial s*xual exploitation of children on Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles. Accompanying the story were a number of photos depicting girls wearing minimal clothing, some handcuffed. In addition, several of the images or descriptions included details that made them identifiable.
We know firsthand that protecting the anonymity and dignity of children and youth is critical - this is especially important for those who have experienced trafficking or exploitation.
Children cannot provide informed consent in the same way adults can, and public exposure can create real safety risks now, including being recognized by traffickers or retraumatized by media attention.
Every child deserves advocates who protect not only their voices, but also their safety, healing, and future.
“If the goal is to truly be thoughtful about how to write about these issues without harming some of the most vulnerable people in our society, then we have different outcomes. It depends on what the goal is.” - Leslie Starr Heimove, Executive Director CLC
Thank you to Nina Alvarez and the Colombia Journalism Review for taking the time to speak with the advocates on the ground, doing the work with this population and for creating this opportunity create thoughtful discussion. Columbia Journalism Review
Read the full article below.
Looking back at a New York Times magazine story to examine what responsible coverage of s*x trafficking looks like—and what it doesn’t.
