Philadelphia editor resigns over ‘Buildings Matter’ headline

J

jacksonsprat22

Verified User
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Inquirer’s top editor is resigning after an uproar over a headline lamenting damage to businesses amid turbulent protests denouncing police brutality against people of color, the paper announced Saturday.

About 30 members of the Inquirer’s 210-member editorial staff called in sick earlier this week, and black staff members angrily condemned the headline. It appeared over an article by architecture critic Inga Saffron, who worried that buildings damaged in violence over the past week could “leave a gaping hole in the heart of Philadelphia.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...1dd206-a852-11ea-898e-b21b9a83f792_story.html
 
An apology to our readers and Inquirer employees

An Inquirer headline suggested an equivalence between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. That is unacceptable.



The Philadelphia Inquirer published a headline in Tuesday’s edition that was deeply offensive. We should not have printed it. We’re sorry, and regret that we did. We also know that an apology on its own is not sufficient.

The headline accompanied a story on the future of Philadelphia’s buildings and civic infrastructure in the aftermath of this week’s protests. The headline offensively riffed on the Black Lives Matter movement, and suggested an equivalence between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. That is unacceptable.


https://www.inquirer.com/news/phila...k-lives-matter-headline-apology-20200603.html
 
jacksonsprat22 said:
An apology to our readers and Inquirer employees

An Inquirer headline suggested an equivalence between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. That is unacceptable.



The Philadelphia Inquirer published a headline in Tuesday’s edition that was deeply offensive. We should not have printed it. We’re sorry, and regret that we did. We also know that an apology on its own is not sufficient.

The headline accompanied a story on the future of Philadelphia’s buildings and civic infrastructure in the aftermath of this week’s protests. The headline offensively riffed on the Black Lives Matter movement, and suggested an equivalence between the loss of buildings and the lives of black Americans. That is unacceptable.


https://www.inquirer.com/news/phila...k-lives-matter-headline-apology-20200603.html
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AProudLefty said:
I mean, did the editor mean to lessen the value of black people's lives?
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In protest, about 40 reporters and columnists on Thursday called out, saying we were “sick and tired.” We also submitted a letter to management that reads in part, “We’re tired of shouldering the burden of dragging this 200-year-old institution kicking and screaming into a more equitable age. We’re tired of being told of the progress the company has made, and being served platitudes about ‘diversity and inclusion’ when we raise our concerns."

https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/bl...nquirer-philly-jenice-armstrong-20200606.html
 
jacksonsprat22 said:
Yes. Looks that way.
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Apparently they don't think so.

"While no such comparison was intended, intent is ultimately irrelevant. An editor’s attempt to capture a columnist’s nuanced argument in a few words went horribly wrong, and the resulting hurt and anger are plain."
 
AProudLefty said:
Apparently they don't think so.

"While no such comparison was intended, intent is ultimately irrelevant. An editor’s attempt to capture a columnist’s nuanced argument in a few words went horribly wrong, and the resulting hurt and anger are plain."
Click to expand...


I see. You believe he resigned for no reason. Ok.
 
AProudLefty said:
Yep. He resigned so all is good. It's over. I just think it's silly, that's all.
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On Wednesday, staff members sent a letter to management called, “An Open Letter From Journalists of Color at The Philadelphia Inquirer” announcing that they would call in sick the following day, and dozens did.


“We’re tired of shouldering the burden of dragging this 200-year-old institution kicking and screaming into a more equitable age,” the letter said. “We’re tired of being told of the progress the company has made and being served platitudes about ‘diversity and inclusion’ when we raise our concerns. We’re tired of seeing our words and photos twisted to fit a narrative that does not reflect our reality. We’re tired of being told to show both sides of issues there are no two sides of.

The letter continued, “Things need to change.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/...tion=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage
 
I do understand your point. I can see why it would outrage some people.

They said they're tired of seeing their words being twisted and yet everybody has been using their words with no problem.

#MattressLivesMatter
 
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