The Daily Show looked into the hard-hitting work of Carl Monday, investigative reporter for WKYC TV in Cleveland, Oh., particularly his stories on a teen masturbating in a public library (six stories, 22 minutes of airtime; that's a lot on TV).
 Carl Monday (left) with Jason Jones |
Now, Monday has a blog.
Here are his postings on The Daily Show, although he hasn't yet posted any reaction to the actual episode:
Jon Stewart Daily Show Update (Sept. 28)
Jon Stewart Crew confronts Carl Monday (Sept. 24)
Working back through Carl's blog, I find the "library" story first ran in May. Carl seems to know his audience, based on this July 28 post:
May 22nd. That's the date we first aired the "Lewd Library" report that included the incident at the Berea library. The report on the now convicted library masturbator was everyday blogger fare. And for more than two months straight, it ranked among the top 5 (usually #1) videos on WKYC.COM.
On Thursday, July 27th...the story dropped off the list. Amen.
In a June 11 post, Carl wondered what the popularity of the story said:
Iraq's al-Qaida Terrorist mastermind gets rubbed out. A youngster's life is lost in the waters of a state park. And two lives are saved when two people donate their kidneys to total strangers. And the "Most Popular Video" on WKYC.COM...for three consecutive weeks is..........."Sexual Activity at Library Caught on tape."
It tells me one of two things. Either we correctly guaged the importance of our recent stories on Library Crime....or....that cyberspace is in fact a virtual wonderland for the voyeristic individuals among us.
He also posted about it on June 1 (X-rated library patron charged with sex act) and May 25, which indicated some strong reaction:
Thanks to everyone who opined (as Bill O'Riley would say) about the Library crime story. As you can see from your fellow bloggers--opinions were many and varied. Although many of you seemed more than ready to tar and feather me, while others preferred a more direct approach...like simply burning me at the stake!
We knew from the onset the story would trigger emotions. Yet we felt it was a story that needed to be told. Because of it's sensitive nature, we tried our best to avoid cheap and tawdry sexual references, while judiciously editing the somewhat suggestive undercover videotape of a man pleasuring himself at the library.
Why did we air the story? First off, it wasn't a random act we happened to stumble upon. We first researched the incident reports from several library systems, from Cleveland to the burbs. All had problems with security, and more specifically, with incidents related to the viewing of internet porn.
We tried not to pass judgement on porn viewing at the library. It would appear the viewing is constituionally protected...to a point.
But when guys are exposing themselves...condoms are found under computer tables, adults are luring kids into restrooms to have sex....convicted child rapists are touching librarians..twelve year old boys are logging onto porn sites....maybe it's time to start asking questions.
And on May 21, a post that previewed what was to come (so to speak):
Men masturbating while watching porn. An adult having sex with a 14-year-old boy in the restroom. A patron robbed at gunpoint. Used condoms found on the floor. Teens having sex on the sink. Man fondles self while looking at 13-year-old girl. Sounds like your neighborhood porn shop. Well, how 'bout your local library?
Monday & Tuesday night at 11...our hidden cameras go undercover at area libraries. You might be appalled at what you see..and want to know why this kind of behavior goes on in our tax supported libraries.
Are our libraries a beacon of light...or a cesspool for perverts? Is your child or one you know at risk?