We present a case study of a researcher–reporter collaboration that formed from an initiative to address thousands of previously untested rape kits in one Midwestern (U.S.) jurisdiction. We explore this symbiotic partnership by examining (a) how and why it formed; (b) the outcomes, including extensive and public dissemination and a unique project that surveyed 294 Ohio law enforcement agencies to see what happened after the rape kits were tested (Ohio Rape Kit Survey Project); and (c) the impact that the partnership, dissemination, and larger initiative had in sparking demonstrable change in how the justice system and the general public responded to and engaged with the issue of untested rape kits and with victims of sexual assault. We conclude with larger takeaways from this collaboration for researchers and reporters but also provide a framework for how this type of collaboration can be leveraged to produce change for the greater good.

我们提供了一个研究人员与记者合作的案例研究，该合作旨在解决一个美国中西部司法管辖区内成千上万未经测试的强奸工具包的问题。我们通过研究（a）它是如何形成的以及为什么形成的来探索这种共生的伙伴关系。（b）结果，包括广泛和公开的传播，以及一个独特的项目，该项目对294个俄亥俄州的执法机构进行了调查，以了解对强奸工具包进行测试后发生了什么（俄亥俄州强奸工具包调查项目）；（c）伙伴关系，传播和更大范围的倡议对引发司法系统和公众如何应对和处理未经检验的强奸工具和性侵犯受害者问题的方式产生了明显变化。