To most of the public, she is known only as Kobe Bryant’s accuser, an anonymous teen whose photograph never appears in mainstream newspapers or on television.

Her identity is public record, but most media have not named her. Yet the 19-year-old woman’s name has been broadcast on the radio by a talk-show host, and her identity — complete with address and phone number — has been posted on various Web sites. Tabloids have run her photo, blacking out only the area around her eyes.

Many of the details of her life — where she lives and goes to school, when she auditioned for “American Idol,” how she was rushed to a hospital for a mental health problem last winter — have been widely reported. Friends and acquaintances talk about her, offering snippets of insight and speculation.

Bryant, a standout Los Angeles Lakers guard, was charged with felony sexual assault after his accuser told authorities he attacked her at a Rocky Mountain resort June 30. Bryant claims the sex was consensual.

Dick Haws, associate professor of journalism and communication, said one reason newspapers choose to not print names of sexual assault victims is because of the stigma that becomes attached to the crime.

If the accuser’s name is printed, the publication may worry it’s helping to perpetuate, or reiterate, the existing stigma of rape, he said.

“In our country, sadly, there are too many people that still believe that if a sexual assault occurred, the victim is somehow to blame,” he said.

Haws, who teaches a media ethics course, said another reason newspapers choose not to print a sexual assault victim’s name is the fear that other victims of sexual assaults will be reluctant to come forward because they, too, would likely be identified publicly.

About 99 percent of U.S. daily newspapers do not name sexual assault victims unless they have the permission of the accuser, he said.

However, one of the reasons a newspaper may choose to identify the name of a sexual assault victim is to treat a sexual assault as it would treat any other type of crime, he said.

“Newspapers that print sexual assault victims’ names say, ‘If there is a stigma attached to sexual assaults, then one way to help reduce the stigma is to confront it and name the victim,'” he said.

Another reason a newspaper may choose to print a sexual assault victim’s name involves the issue of equality, or fairness, he said.

“[A newspaper that prints a sexual assault accuser’s name may say], ‘If the accused is identified, then why shouldn’t the accuser be identified?,'” he said.

“In a robbery, murder, kidnapping or burglary, the news media identifies both parties involved.”

Barbara Mack, associate professor of journalism and communication, said there are important factors to keep in mind in cases regarding sexual assault.

There is a combination of reasons why rape is often treated differently than other types of crimes, said Mack, who is also an attorney.

“Frequently, there is an existing relationship between the accused and the accuser,” she said.

“[Rape] is not like a bar fight or a murder. It’s a crime of secrecy.”

Heather Priess, Story County Sexual Assault Response Team coordinator, said more often than not, victims of sexual assault prefer not to have their names released to the public.

“Most victims are concerned about family members, friends and people in the community finding out about the sexual assault,” she said.

Priess said, in the past, there have been a few instances where the victims of a sexual assault have been comfortable having their names publicly released.

“These people tend to be people who are not as self-blaming,” she said.

“They recognize that what happened to them wasn’t their fault, and they shouldn’t feel ashamed to have their names released.”

Audrey Burgs, metro night editor of the Des Moines Register, said the Register’s policy is to withhold names of sexual assault victims.

In many cases, the paper will also withhold the names of juveniles, she said.

David Kraemer, editor in chief of the Ames Tribune, said the Tribune, too, does not publish the names of sexual assault victims.

ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger said there are two conditions under the law where basic information of a crime can be withheld from the public.

“One [condition] is when [releasing the name] would significantly compromise the investigation and the second is when there are safety concerns regarding the victim or the person who would be named,” he said.

— The Associated Press contributed to this article.