Cartoon Reprints Revisited
Some time ago, I wrote a letter to the editor about the college paper in Illinois republishing the cartoons of Muhammad (see below for full text). I was pleased to read this today:
From CNN.com
College paper's editor fired over Mohammed cartoons
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 3:09 a.m. EST (08:09 GMT)
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (AP) -- An editor who chose to publish caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the University of Illinois' student-run newspaper last month has been fired, the paper's publisher announced Tuesday.
Acton H. Gorton was suspended, with pay, from The Daily Illini days after the Feb. 9 publication of the cartoons, which sparked Muslim protests around the world after they first appeared in a Danish newspaper.
At the time, Daily Illini publishers said the action was taken against Gorton not for publishing the cartoons, but for failing to discuss it with others in the newsroom first.
The Illini Media Co. board of directors, which comprises students and faculty, voted unanimously to fire the editor after a review "found that Gorton violated Daily Illini policies about thoughtful discussion of and preparation for the publication of inflammatory material," according to a statement.
Gorton has said he sought out advice from The Daily Illini's former editor-in-chief and others before deciding to run the cartoons. He has said that accusations he tried to hide his decision were wrong.
On Tuesday, he called his firing a blow against free speech on college campuses.
"If I can be fired, what will other students think who maybe want to challenge the status quo?" said Gorton, who had briefly addressed a board meeting the previous night. "This is a bad precedent."
Gorton said he intends to sue the publishers of The Daily Illini, citing, among other complaints, unlawful dismissal.
Board member Adam Jung said he is confident the company "has acted properly on this issue."
The paper's opinions page editor, Chuck Prochaska, also was suspended for his role in publishing the cartoons. He declined to be reinstated, the board said.
Prochaska said he and Gorton moved quickly to publish the cartoons because they were newsworthy.
"We had a news story on our hands, with violence erupting about imagery, but you can't show it because of a taboo, because of a taboo that's not a Western taboo but a Muslim taboo?" he said. "That's a blow to journalism."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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My Let. to Ed.
Feb. 11, 2006:
Attention should be called to the gross display of small-mindedness exhibited by the editors of the newspaper The Daily Illini in publishing six of the twelve Danish cartoons depicting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. This occurred in the Thursday, February 09, 2006 edition of the student paper for the University of Illinois. By parading egregious religious bigotry under the banner of freedom of the press, the decision of The Daily Illini exemplifies a profound lack of understanding and restraint.
Since the caricatures of Muhammad, considered taboo by many Muslims, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September, reaction has recently grown into a firestorm of widespread protests in many parts of the globe, at times turning violent. Limited numbers of publications in Europe and other regions have republished the cartoons, further fanning the flames of anger.
In the United States, The Daily Illini has added its own incendiary actions to the fray, invoking a rallying cry of freedom of the press to justify their reckless choice. The editor in chief of the paper, A. G., in an explanation accompanying the reprinted cartoons, wrote, “All across this nation, editors are gripped in fear of printing ... for fear of the reaction. … [However, I believe] It is only proper that you, the public, are allowed to think for yourselves.”
In their attempt to enlighten the public by reprinting the cartoons, the editors of the Daily Illini have plummeted to a level that “is insensitive … is offensive … [and] is provocative,” according to U.N. Secretary General K. A.
Through their actions, the editors of The Daily Illini have shown all the prudence of a young child with matches. Instead of singeing his own fingers however, the unprofessional, tactless, and crude actions of A. G. will only stoke discord and malcontent in many Muslims across the globe.
To reprint the cartoons was a mistake that will, with all hope, go unrepeated if honest contemplation is given to the deep need for respect in all actions carried out in the name of freedom of the press.
From CNN.com
College paper's editor fired over Mohammed cartoons
Wednesday, March 15, 2006; Posted: 3:09 a.m. EST (08:09 GMT)
CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (AP) -- An editor who chose to publish caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the University of Illinois' student-run newspaper last month has been fired, the paper's publisher announced Tuesday.
Acton H. Gorton was suspended, with pay, from The Daily Illini days after the Feb. 9 publication of the cartoons, which sparked Muslim protests around the world after they first appeared in a Danish newspaper.
At the time, Daily Illini publishers said the action was taken against Gorton not for publishing the cartoons, but for failing to discuss it with others in the newsroom first.
The Illini Media Co. board of directors, which comprises students and faculty, voted unanimously to fire the editor after a review "found that Gorton violated Daily Illini policies about thoughtful discussion of and preparation for the publication of inflammatory material," according to a statement.
Gorton has said he sought out advice from The Daily Illini's former editor-in-chief and others before deciding to run the cartoons. He has said that accusations he tried to hide his decision were wrong.
On Tuesday, he called his firing a blow against free speech on college campuses.
"If I can be fired, what will other students think who maybe want to challenge the status quo?" said Gorton, who had briefly addressed a board meeting the previous night. "This is a bad precedent."
Gorton said he intends to sue the publishers of The Daily Illini, citing, among other complaints, unlawful dismissal.
Board member Adam Jung said he is confident the company "has acted properly on this issue."
The paper's opinions page editor, Chuck Prochaska, also was suspended for his role in publishing the cartoons. He declined to be reinstated, the board said.
Prochaska said he and Gorton moved quickly to publish the cartoons because they were newsworthy.
"We had a news story on our hands, with violence erupting about imagery, but you can't show it because of a taboo, because of a taboo that's not a Western taboo but a Muslim taboo?" he said. "That's a blow to journalism."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Let. to Ed.
Feb. 11, 2006:
Attention should be called to the gross display of small-mindedness exhibited by the editors of the newspaper The Daily Illini in publishing six of the twelve Danish cartoons depicting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad. This occurred in the Thursday, February 09, 2006 edition of the student paper for the University of Illinois. By parading egregious religious bigotry under the banner of freedom of the press, the decision of The Daily Illini exemplifies a profound lack of understanding and restraint.
Since the caricatures of Muhammad, considered taboo by many Muslims, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September, reaction has recently grown into a firestorm of widespread protests in many parts of the globe, at times turning violent. Limited numbers of publications in Europe and other regions have republished the cartoons, further fanning the flames of anger.
In the United States, The Daily Illini has added its own incendiary actions to the fray, invoking a rallying cry of freedom of the press to justify their reckless choice. The editor in chief of the paper, A. G., in an explanation accompanying the reprinted cartoons, wrote, “All across this nation, editors are gripped in fear of printing ... for fear of the reaction. … [However, I believe] It is only proper that you, the public, are allowed to think for yourselves.”
In their attempt to enlighten the public by reprinting the cartoons, the editors of the Daily Illini have plummeted to a level that “is insensitive … is offensive … [and] is provocative,” according to U.N. Secretary General K. A.
Through their actions, the editors of The Daily Illini have shown all the prudence of a young child with matches. Instead of singeing his own fingers however, the unprofessional, tactless, and crude actions of A. G. will only stoke discord and malcontent in many Muslims across the globe.
To reprint the cartoons was a mistake that will, with all hope, go unrepeated if honest contemplation is given to the deep need for respect in all actions carried out in the name of freedom of the press.