A letter from some different editors
A different part of the newsroom speaks on the Karson column controversy
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Opinion
This has been the most agonizing and frustrating week of our careers with the Campus Press.
Last Monday, an opinion column written by Max Karson was posted on the Campus Press asking white students to rise up against the Asian students on campus and Americanize them against their will. The intent of the author was satire. However, the piece was not labeled as such and it was not obviously clear to the community that it was, in fact, satire.
Many of us -- we do not speak on behalf of the entire Campus Press staff -- disagreed with the publishing of the opinion. It was a mistake and we do not stand behind the decision to publish the opinion. It has harmed the campus community. It has harmed our rapport with our sources, detracted from the content of the Web site's other sections and thrown the Campus Press in a truly unsavory light.
Karson's was just the latest in a series of opinion pieces that ran on our Web site that have not upheld the highest values of journalistic ethics that we value and have worked so hard to uphold. We have seen racism, bigotry, negativity and almost nothing based on any sort of fact or journalistic integrity in the opinion section.
The Campus Press is not The Onion and we are not the Daily Show. We are not satirists working for a comedy publication. Satire in this hateful and derogatory manner is not journalism.
We are journalists and, as such, we have standards to enforce. A quality journalistic opinion is based in fact, addresses an issue from all angles and poses a solution. We need to show compassion for the people our stories affect.
Among others, Karson's column did none of these things. It was hurtful and for that we are truly and deeply sorry.
We did not see this article before it ran. We felt the same shock and outrage that the rest of campus felt when they read the opinion Monday afternoon. We spoke out and tried to initiate a dialogue.
Unfortunately a productive and effective conversation was not begun until it was too late to turn back the approaching firestorm.
Last Monday, an opinion column written by Max Karson was posted on the Campus Press asking white students to rise up against the Asian students on campus and Americanize them against their will. The intent of the author was satire. However, the piece was not labeled as such and it was not obviously clear to the community that it was, in fact, satire.
Many of us -- we do not speak on behalf of the entire Campus Press staff -- disagreed with the publishing of the opinion. It was a mistake and we do not stand behind the decision to publish the opinion. It has harmed the campus community. It has harmed our rapport with our sources, detracted from the content of the Web site's other sections and thrown the Campus Press in a truly unsavory light.
Karson's was just the latest in a series of opinion pieces that ran on our Web site that have not upheld the highest values of journalistic ethics that we value and have worked so hard to uphold. We have seen racism, bigotry, negativity and almost nothing based on any sort of fact or journalistic integrity in the opinion section.
The Campus Press is not The Onion and we are not the Daily Show. We are not satirists working for a comedy publication. Satire in this hateful and derogatory manner is not journalism.
We are journalists and, as such, we have standards to enforce. A quality journalistic opinion is based in fact, addresses an issue from all angles and poses a solution. We need to show compassion for the people our stories affect.
Among others, Karson's column did none of these things. It was hurtful and for that we are truly and deeply sorry.
We did not see this article before it ran. We felt the same shock and outrage that the rest of campus felt when they read the opinion Monday afternoon. We spoke out and tried to initiate a dialogue.
Unfortunately a productive and effective conversation was not begun until it was too late to turn back the approaching firestorm.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 39
Larry Kelley
posted 2/26/08 @ 5:26 AM MST
So if it had, in fact, been labeled as satire would you still have published it? Satire works because it takes a moment or two for the reader to realize it's satire. (Continued…)
Nataly
posted 2/26/08 @ 12:26 PM MST
Kudos to all of you for setting the record straight on what is going on at CP. However, what's troubling is that not one but two journalistically ignorant articles have been printed by CP in the last two weeks. (Continued…)
Rachel
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:14 PM MST
Wow. As a recent college newspaper ME I've been following this story with some interest. Thank you for posting this.
Patrck L. Wolfinbarger
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:31 PM MST
I was one of the students who helped start the Working Press (i.e. Campus Press) in the 1970s with the support of the late Mal Deans. I am proud of how the Campus Press has evolved over the years into the journalistic enterprise it has become. (Continued…)
Satirist Swift-Twain
posted 2/26/08 @ 2:03 PM MST
I believe that you should mention that Karson's piece was an ATTEMPT at satire. His ATTEMPT failed miserably and for that reason people took it the way they did. (Continued…)
Seth
posted 2/26/08 @ 3:47 PM MST
I applaud the sincere apologetic attitude of this piece and I think the viewers in general understand that this is only a single instance that does not reflect CU or the campus press as a whole. (Continued…)
I Support the Campus Press
posted 2/26/08 @ 9:03 PM MST
To the nine editors:
May I just say that I find your blatant attempts to watch your own backs utterly disgusting? First of all, was it really necessary to entitle this ridiculous waste of space "A letter from some different editors"? Clearly you are seeking to distance yourselves as far from your peers as humanly possible, which does not really suggest unity among the Campus Press workers in the slightest. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 2/26/08 @ 11:24 PM MST
I completely agree with the above. The nine of you should be so proud on backing up and standing behind your publication. Bravo.
Melissa
posted 2/27/08 @ 12:03 AM MST
Your editors' response to the article, while obligatory, was hardly comforting – much less convincing. As an organization you clearly believe that such a piece "was, in fact, satire," but you are wholly mistaken. (Continued…)
Maia
posted 2/27/08 @ 9:24 AM MST
While I was pleased to finally see some recognition of the blunder, I too found the apology disappointing as I see clear reluctance to accept responsibility. (Continued…)
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