Student editor fired over Muhammed caricatures

[Ryokan]

The editor of a US student newspaper is the latest figure to be sacked for republishing the notorious Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad.

The 12 cartoons, including one of the prophet wearing a bomb-shaped turban, first appeared in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September last year and have since sparked worldwide demonstrations.

Acton Gorton had served only three months of his one-year term as editor of the Daily Illini, at the University of Illinois, when he was suspended with pay. The publisher, Illini Media, claims Gorton violated newspaper policy by failing to discuss the publication of the cartoons adequately before they appeared in print, on February 9.

Gorton was removed from his post following a unanimous vote by the newspaper's board of directors, made up of students and faculty. The board claimed Gorton had "violated Daily Illini policies about thoughtful discussion of, and preparation for, the publication of inflammatory material".

Source (http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1733366,00.html?gusrc=ticker-103704)

[toddjh]

This all went down just a couple blocks from where I'm sitting right now.

Personally, I think it was a horrible decision to fire him. Are newspapers in the business of trying to placate easily-offended religious extremists, or are they in the business of telling news? Those cartoons were extremely newsworthy by any definition of the word (how many of us pored over the web looking for them?), and I think the editor exhibited a lot of journalistic integrity by printing them even though he must've known it would cost him a great deal personally. Likewise, I was equally disappointed that hardly any American news sources printed the cartoons and underscored just how silly this whole mess it. I can only hope Gorton lands on his feet.

[webfusion]

I think the JREF is looking for a new Challenge Moderator -- mr Gorton seems a likely candidate.

[Hutch]

I would note that this was a college newspaper, not a privately-owned one, so that the Administration/Faculty would have a great deal more influence/veto power than most papers on what is run. So I'm not too surprised, college editors get in trouble quite a bit by ruffling feathers.

So he may be a hero--or he may be just a guy who likes lighting firecrackers...information not conclusive.

[Oolon Colluphid]

They were poorly drawn. They were not funny. Their only purpose was to antagonise. At least, on that level, they 'worked'. No wonder they hate the west.

[TimmyBerry]

Eh.. Not the first time Daily Illini messes up. They've had some pretty racist comics up last year, as well.
(Truth be told, the quality of the newspaper deteriorated in the past couple of years- used to be all news, now it's all advertising.)

[LuxFerum]

They were poorly drawn. They were not funny. Their only purpose was to antagonise. At least, on that level, they 'worked'. No wonder they hate the west.
Because they can´t make us as mad as we can make then? :p

[toddjh]

So he may be a hero--or he may be just a guy who likes lighting firecrackers...information not conclusive.

I suppose that's possible, but he must've known his job would be in jeopardy for printing the cartoons. I agree it's not conclusive, but people who like lighting firecrackers don't usually stuff them down their pants.

[Nick Bogaerts]

I would note that this was a college newspaper, not a privately-owned one, so that the Administration/Faculty would have a great deal more influence/veto power than most papers on what is run. So I'm not too surprised, college editors get in trouble quite a bit by ruffling feathers.


That's what is odd with it: the publisher is called 'Illi Media'. What the heck is 'Illi Media', and what kind of student paper is this which isn't being run by the Student's Union?

[DanishDynamite]

So he may be a hero--or he may be just a guy who likes lighting firecrackers...information not conclusive.
Sorry, but in what way is it relevant what his motivation was?