Was Golf Week out of line?
The editors of Golf Week chose this "noose" cover to report the controversy over Kelly Tilghman's ill-chosen words to "lynch" Tiger. Is this cover worse than what Kelly said? Here's the full article.
UPDATE: Golfweek just replaced Editor David Seanor with Jeff Babineau and has issued this apology for the graphic "noose" cover:
“We apologize for creating this graphic cover that received extreme negative reaction from consumers, subscribers and advertisers across the country,” said William P. Kupper Jr., president of Turnstile Publishing Co., the parent company of Golfweek. “We were trying to convey the controversial issue with a strong and provocative graphic image. It is now obvious that the overall reaction to our cover deeply offended many people. For that, we are deeply apologetic.”
Babineau, 45, has been with Golfweek for nine years, and has filled a number of roles with the magazine, including editor, deputy editor and senior writer. In his new role, he will report directly to Kupper.
“We know we have a job ahead of us to re-earn the trust and confidence of many loyal readers,” Babineau said. “Our staff is very passionate about the game. Our wish is that one regretful error does not erase more than 30 years of service we’ve dedicated to this industry.”
11 Comments:
That cover's just stupid.
Golfweek did the courageous and right thing by showing vividly why certain insensitive things shouldn't just be swept under the rug by using the front cover to illustrate history.
Inflammatory words of any kind should be the concern of everyone, especially those speaking in the public! Public speakers need to stop defending and down playing insensitive language when it comes to different cultures and backgrounds. It does not matter if the person is playing and joking, or how many good works they have done in a ethnic community if they fail to realize the impact and history of certain language, depictions and actions that have shaped attitudes for generations.
The media and their employees are very conscious about the FCC when it comes to using vulgarity and profanity on public airways, the same concern should be adhered to without excuses when it comes to using inflammatory words that have a very painful history attached to them. Racist, inflammatory and Anti-Semitic comments should not be tolerated in a public forum, or on the public airways in any shape, fashion or form.
Yes, that cover is worse than Tilghman's original comment in that it restates, graphically, what was an inadvertent comment on The Golf Channel. Tilghman is still on a two-week suspension, while the editor of Golf Week has now been fired in response to Finchem's complaints and a threatened advertising boycott. How can Finchem now not call for Tilghman's head also? That fifteen year contract TGC has could hang in the balance.
It's hard to believe a great rag like this would let this cover go anywhere but the editing floor.
They are now paying the price!!
Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com
It's hard to believe a great mag like Golfweek would let this cover go past the editing stage. They are now paying the price
Steve Wozeniak PGA Director of Instruction Bellevue/Lake Spanaway Golf Courses
www.stevewozeniak.com
Its amazing how this is even considered to be responsible journalism. I was shocked to see this, especially on the cover. An absolute shame they were even given the OK to publish this. It seems as though, if given the opportunity, which Kelly did, how the so called journalists in print and TV keep fanning the flames of racism. Whoever approved this should be punished.
Getting the attention of the public, addressing and discussing an issue that was already a hot topic in Golf news, and illustrating the magnitude of such imflammatory comments appeared to be the purpose. But of course there are many people who would love to think, believe and act monolithically in a world of denial oppose to acknowledging and discussing a topic that is deeply rooted in Americas society.
i-b-m:
Ever hear of the 1st amendment? It's there to protect speech YOU find offensive.
Ever hear of the 1st amendment? It's there to protect speech YOU find offensive.
yes, protect it from the government, not from your boss.
I think it was worse, simply because this was not an inadvertent comment, with a poor choice of words at the end of a 4 hour set, but something that people sat down and had time to contemplate, and STILL thought it was a good idea.
If any of you saw Kornheiser's comments about this, I disagree with him. I think it's incredibly poor taste and, frankly, lazy, to go find the most offensive graphic you can find, in order to "stimulate conversation" on a topic that "badly needs discussing". Yeah, because there's not enough over the top rhetoric in the discussion yet, let's be deliberately inflammatory and offensive. THAT will help move the "conversation" along.
It was a dumb idea, poorly carried out.
Alex, you obviously didn't read my comments in their entirety. I actually speak about the refusal to discuss the offensive language, the rush to deny and bury comments without reflection or education why some people may find certain comments offensive. I never implied that someone doesn't have a right to say some things; furthermore, contrary to the myth you speak of, all speech is not protected by the 1st Amendment. That has always been so, and more so since the Patiot Act which has been used domestically for matters only intended for acts of war and terror.
I-B-M
19 years in Law Enforcement
16 years teaching Application of Law & enforcement of law
I want to hire David Seanor...I thought the cover was not only thought provoking but it clearly stated the position Tilghman put herself into...for the naysayers...take your heads out of the sand. Seanor should still have a job.
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