Student editor fired over Muhammed caricatures

Ryokan · 17th March 2006, 09:55 AM

Quote:

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

toddjh · 17th March 2006, 10:14 AM

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 · 17th March 2006, 10:28 AM

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

Hutch · 17th March 2006, 10:44 AM

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 · 17th March 2006, 10:46 AM

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 · 17th March 2006, 10:56 AM

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 · 17th March 2006, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

Because they can´t make us as mad as we can make then?

toddjh · 17th March 2006, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Hutch

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 · 17th March 2006, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 17th March 2006, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Hutch

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?

17th March 2006, 09:55 AM	#1
Ryokan Insert something funny here Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 8,166	Student editor fired over Muhammed caricatures Quote: 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

17th March 2006, 10:44 AM	#4
Hutch A broken man on a Halifax pier, the last of Barrett's Privateers Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: About 7 Miles from the Saturn 5B Posts: 6,533	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.
	__________________ If sheer righteous fury could accomplish anything worthwhile, Wolverines would have inherited the Galaxy long ago." -Web DuHavel, David Weber's "Honorverse" Series

17th March 2006, 10:46 AM	#5
Oolon Colluphid Muse Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Trapped inside an osteal carapace. Posts: 926	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.
	__________________ If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

17th March 2006, 10:56 AM	#6
TimmyBerry Critical Thinker Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The armpit of the tornado valley Posts: 255	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.)
	__________________ Your average tea-drinking, metal-working, lizard-keeping alien. "Draw me a leaf. But don't draw me a leaf!" -Dan Soha

17th March 2006, 10:58 AM	#7
LuxFerum Augustus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Brazil Posts: 5,417	Originally Posted by 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. Because they can´t make us as mad as we can make then?
	__________________ Jos kad bih znala sta pametno da napisem! Eh, nikad se ne zna. Mozda me netko i razumije. - Tanja Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill. Well, if crime fighters fight crime and fire fighters fight fire, what do freedom fighters fight? They never mention that part to us, do they? - George Carlin

17th March 2006, 10:14 AM	#2
toddjh Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,252	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.

17th March 2006, 10:28 AM	#3
webfusion Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Near I-95 Posts: 6,216	I think the JREF is looking for a new Challenge Moderator -- mr Gorton seems a likely candidate.

17th March 2006, 11:00 AM	#8
toddjh Illuminator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,252	Originally Posted by Hutch 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.

17th March 2006, 11:56 AM	#9
Nick Bogaerts Muse Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Didcot, Oxfordshire Posts: 617	Originally Posted by 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. 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?
	__________________ Oh, and when the last law was down, and the devil turned on you, where would you hide, Roper, all the laws being flat? This country is planted thick with laws from coast to coast, man's laws not God's, and if you cut them down—and you're just the man to do it—do you really think that you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the devil the benefit of the law, for my own safety's sake. —Robert Bolt, A Man For All Seasons

17th March 2006, 12:28 PM	#10
DanishDynamite Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: In the cold Posts: 10,802	Originally Posted by Hutch 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?