>Following the Cologne problems of New Year 2016, sexually connected incidents are more often in the press.
>How to compare/weigh numbers if writing an article? Comparison over time is marred by the fact that today many things are lumped together, which back then were not deemed a crime.


Sure.
Writers tend to report on issues of current interest.
No argument there.
In this case, the NYT was creating the issue.
Most journalism profs called that "yellow journalism" a pejorative hurled at William Randolph Hearst for doing just that.
The NY Times' motto used to be "All the news that's fit to print."
Lately it seems to br "All the news that fits our prejudices."