As far as I know, there are no laws in any state prohibiting the media from disclosing the name of a victim of any crime. However, there are laws prohibiting police from giving certain information to the press - including the names of victims of certain crimes who ask to file a closed complaint. (If the report is closed - or sealed, as it is sometimes called - police are prohibited from releasing almost any information about the alleged crime. This is very often how rape charges - especially acquaintance rape - are made.) In theory, if a journalist can get that information from somewhere other than the cops (or if the cops slip up and release it), they can print it.
However, nearly every paper has guidelines for their own publications laid out in a code of ethics. Most are worded generally, much like the guideline in the Minimize Harm section of the official code of ethics for the
Society of Professional Journalists . : "Journalists should use caution when identifying juvenile victims or victims of sex crimes." ( The entire code of ethics can be found
here . )
What that means in practice, is that no reputable paper will print the name of a victim of a violent/sexual crime without their consent unless there is a very important reason for them to do so. This is done to protect the victim not only from the publicity but also from potential retaliation from the perpetrator. Journalists are careful not only to hide the name, but also any identifying details of the victim (approximate address, community affiliations, place of employment, etc) that could easily be used to single out the victim.
Sometimes, the victim or the victim's family will relinquish this right and speak out, giving up their right to privacy in exchange for the ability to ask for public support or justice.
Annie (you only thought I'd disappeared into lurkerdom. <G>)