Fear a factor in cartoon decisions

Rocky Mountain News ^ | 2/11/2006 | John Temple

[curtisgardner]

Does the violent response to the Danish cartoons of Muhammad provide a dramatic explanation for the decline in the number of editorial cartoonists in recent years at American newspapers?

I hope that's not the case.

But it would be easy to believe, based on the decisions of most editors and publishers this week. It would be easy to believe that offending some readers is not a price they're willing to pay.

With few exceptions, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Austin American-Statesman and Rocky Mountain News, most newspapers decided not to show their readers any of the images, despite the fact that they're clearly newsworthy.

(In the interest of full disclosure: The Rocky linked to them from its Web site starting Feb. 2 and published an editorial Tuesday accompanied by one of the Danish cartoons, one that I thought was actually humorous. You can find the editorial at RockyMountainNews.com, but this conclusion will give you its gist: "Freedom must imply the right to offend religious believers - as well as the members of every other organization or group. Otherwise, we will have ceded our freedoms to the veto of the most intolerant among us. The intolerant in Europe and throughout the Muslim world are now trying to exercise such a veto. They must not be allowed to succeed." Today we publish a second Danish drawing as part of a package of controversial cartoons in Commentary on Page 10C.)

The standard explanation by editors who took the opposite course, from The Associated Press, which declined to distribute the cartoons on its wire, to National Public Radio, which wouldn't even link to them from its Web site, and most newspapers is that the drawings are offensive and that the story can be told just fine by describing them.

"I believe that our audience can, through our reports - on radio and the Web - get a very detailed sense of what's depicted in the cartoon. By not posting it on the Web, we demonstrate a respect for deeply held religious beliefs," Bill Marimow of NPR said.

Can you understand, now, why I ask the question about why cartoonists are disappearing from the staffs of American newspapers? The number is down in two decades from about 200 to the low 80s today, according to the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

Cartoons are, by their very nature, blunt instruments. They often upset, even outrage. I can tell you that based on the angry response I've had to field to cartoons by our Ed Stein and Drew Litton.

"Nearly all cartoonists worth their salt have enraged some portion of their readership, often when religious symbolism was part of the cartoon," Signe Wilkinson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist with the Philadelphia Daily News, wrote in a column this week.

The consensus among American newspapers not to show the Danish cartoons indicates that there may be some groups publishers are reluctant to offend. Cartoonists are difficult people to rein in, so the simple answer for a newspaper is to do without them, hence the sharp drop in the number of staff cartoonists.

Their decision in this case may come back to haunt newspapers when they're faced with whether to print something that might appear to be offensive to another group. If it's not necessary to show any of these cartoons, why would it be appropriate to print something that might offend, say, Catholics, to pick a religion that has taken a lot of hits in the past few years?

The New York Times published a lengthy piece by its art critic Michael Kimmelman about the cartoons headlined, "A startling new lesson in the power of imagery." You'd think an article with that headline would show the "startling new lesson." But no, instead it printed a photograph of a collage of the Virgin Mary "with cutouts from pornographic magazines and shellacked clumps of elephant dung."

Isn't it reasonable to ask whether that decision doesn't send the message that it's OK to offend Christians but not Muslims?

I question whether we're being given the full story about why some news organizations aren't touching the cartoons.

The missing word: Fear.

It would be impossible as a responsible editor with correspondents in the Muslim world to see the violent protests and not be concerned about endangering your own staff.

An alternative newspaper in Boston, The Phoenix, put it bluntly.

"Simply stated, we are being terrorized, and as deeply as we believe in the principles of free speech and a free press, we could not in good conscience place the men and women who work at the Phoenix and its related companies in physical jeopardy. As we feel forced, literally, to bend to maniacal pressure, this may be the darkest moment in our 40-year publishing history."

It's understandable other editors and publishers might not make a similar statement publicly, but it's hard to believe this concern didn't factor into their decisions.

Publishing offensive material doesn't mean that a newspaper endorses it. It can mean that a newspaper takes seriously its role of informing the public. That's what we hope to do in our special presentation on this issue in our Commentary section today. I hope you'll spend time with it, and understand that our intention is not to offend but to provide a context in which to view today's controversy.

[curtisgardner]

This is an editorial from the editor, author, and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News, a relatively conservative paper in Denver, CO.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Most newspapers in the US are run by islam appeasing liberals so the cartoons haven't been printed.

[dasboot]

Some writing the Phoenix can be, finally, proud of: no pointy-headed, intellectualizing about it. Honesty that shames the big papers. "We're scared shit of Islamic fundamentalists sawing our janitor's head of."

Next headline: "Bush's Worthless War for Oil."

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

OSINT.INTERNET-HAGANAH.com (WeeklyStandard.com): "THE CARTOON JIHAD - THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD'S PROJECT FOR DOMINATING THE WEST" by Olivier Guitta (February 11, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (NEW YORK TIMES): "CARTOON RAGE PLANNED AT OIC MEETING" (February 10, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "REBORN EXTREMIST SECT HAD KEY ROLE IN LONDON PROTEST" (February 11, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (YNET NEWS): "BRITISH MUSLIM GROUP DECLARES NEW JIHAD" (January 9, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE WAR ON THE FREE PRESS The Cartoon Jihadists are winning..." (February 9, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "MUSLIM NEWSPAPER RAN CARTOONS 4 MONTHS AGO No outrage when Egyptian publication headlined drawings on Ramadan cover" (February 9, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE CARTOON INTIFADA" -Commentary by Clifford D. May (February 9, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): Kandahar, Afghanistan - "TALEBAN SAY 100 ENLIST FOR SUICIDE ATTACKS OVER CARTOONS" (February 9, 2006)

DAILY TIMES.com.pk: Islamabad - "TALIBAN OFFER 100kg GOLD FOR KILLING CARTOONIST" (February 9, 2006)

MEMRITV.org - Video Clip No. 1032 - Transcript: "HIZBULLAH SECRETARY-GENERAL HASSAN NASRALLAH: BUSH AND CONDOLEEZZA RICE SHOULD SHUT UP.  WE WILL DEFEND OUR PROPHET WITH OUR BLOOD" (February 9, 2006)

MEMRITV.org

FOX NEWS.com (AP): " RICE: SYRIA, IRAN INFLAMED VIOLENCE" (February 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "IRANIAN PAPER PLANS HOLOCAUST CARTOONS" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 8, 2006)

TOWNHALL.com: "CALVIN AND HOBBES -- AND MUHAMMAD" -Commentary by Ann Coulter (February 8, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1089 "Sheikh Al-Qaradhawi Responds to Cartoons of Prophet Muhammad: Whoever is Angered and Does Not Rage in Anger is a Jackass - We are Not a Nation of Jackasses" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "In a February 3, 2006 Friday sermon, Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who is head of the European Council for Fatwa and Research, president of the International Association of Muslim Scholars (IAMS), and the spiritual guide of many other Islamist organizations across the world (including the Muslim Brotherhood), exhorted worshippers to show rage to the world over the Danish paper Jylland Posten's publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The sermon was aired on Qatar TV on February 3, 2006.") (February 9, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "U.N., EU TO APOLOGIZE TO ISLAM FOR CARTOONS" (February 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS, FREE SPEECH RIGHTS UNDER PRESSURE FROM RADICAL ISLAM Intimidation factor is real following riots and death threats" by Mark Ellis (February 7, 2006)

Off-Topic.INTERNET-HAGANAH.COM: "YEAH, THAT'S A PAROLE VIOLATION...(February 7, 2006)

News.BBC.co.uk: "CARTOON PROTESTER WAS DRUG DEALER" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A Muslim demonstrator who imitated a suicide bomber in London to protest over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad is a convicted drug dealer. Omar Khayam, 22, of Bedford, was jailed in 2002 and released on licence last year after serving half of his sentence for dealing heroin and cocaine.") (Last updated February 7, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'MUHAMMAD CARTOON' PROVED FAKE Imam added 3 especially provocative images to fuel outrage" (February 8, 2006)

MilitantIslamMonitor (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "MUSLIMS CLERICS WHO 'DIALOUGED' WITH DANES WENT TO MIDDLE EAST TO INCITE VIOLENCE WITH FAKED MOHAMMED CARTOONS" (February 7, 2006)

MEMRI.org - Special Dispatch Series - No. 1087: "HAMAS LEADER KHALED MASH'AL AT A DAMASCUS MOSQUE: THE NATION OF ISLAM WILL SIT AT THE THONE OF THE WORLD AND THE WEST WILL BE FULL OF REMORSE - WHEN IT'S TOO LATE" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "FEBRUARY 13, 2006 THE NEW EMBASSY BURNING DAY" (February 7, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.com: "2/10/2006 - Embassy Burning Day" (February 4, 2006)

"www.mohajroon.com/vb"

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "HOW THE BROTHERS ATTACKED THE WEBSITE OF JYLLANDS-POSTEN." (February 7, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "ISLAMIST HACKER SITE 3ASFH.NET/.COM - DOWN" (February 8, 2006)

JAMESTOWN.org - Terrorism Focus: "INTERNET MUJAHIDEEN REFINE ELECTRONIC WARFARE TACTICS" by Stephen Ulph (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NEW YORK SUN): "CARTOONS AND ISLAMIC IMPERIALISM" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

DANIELPIPES.org (NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE): "THE CLASH TO END ALL CLASHES?  Making sense of the cartoon jihad" by Daniel Pipes (February 7, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs - Weblog (TELEGRAPH.co.uk): "RADICAL CLERIC: CARTOONIST SHOULD BE EXECUTED" (February 6, 2006)

Google - News Search: "OMAR BAKRI [Mohammed]"

JIHAD WATCH.org (SA via News24.com): "'We swear to God, if we catch one of their citizens in Iraq, we will cut him to pieces, to take revenge for prophet'" (February 6, 2006)

JPOST.com - JERUSALEM POST: "IRANIAN PAPER RUNS HOLOCAUST CONTEST" (Updated February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (ABC.net.au): "TWO KILLED IN AFGHAN ANTI-CARTOON PROTEST" (February 6, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "TURKEY: CATHOLIC PRIEST SHOT, KILLED BY ASSAILANT SHOUTING 'ALLAHU AKBAR'" (February 6, 2006)

OnlineJihad.blogspot.com: "ITALIAN PRIEST KILLED IN TURKEY - No Apology from Turkish Prime Minister" (February 5, 2006)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: Beirut - "SYRIA SEEN AS INSTIGATOR" (February 7, 2006)

GlobalPolitician.com: "BEIRUT MOB TORCHES CONSULATE" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 6, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog - (TheAge.com.au): "CARTOON JIHAD IN NEW ZEALAND" (February 5, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "VOTE EARLY, VOTE OFTEN" (February 5, 2006)

IslamOnline.net - Views and Analyses: "CARTOONS OF THE PROPHET: A PITFALL TRAP" by Dal Nun Strong, Freelance Writer - UK (February 5, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MORE LIES FROM DANISH IMAMS" (February 4, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IT IS NOT A 'ROW'" (February 4, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "ISLAMIC ANGER AGAINST PUBLICATION OF CARTOONS GROWS Dishonor Muhammad and Risk Execution" by Jeremy Reynalds (February 4, 2006)

AS-SAWAH.com: "The Ruling on the One Who Insults the Prophet of Allah" -posted by "terrorthreat" on February 2, 2006

JIHAD WATCH.org (BBC): "NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS TORCHED ALSO" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "DANISH EMBASSY IN DAMASCUS ABLAZE" (February 4, 2006)

BBC NEWS.co.uk: "TWO JORDAN EDITORS ARE ARRESTED" (February 4, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "E-CFR.ORG: CURRENT SITE OF THE 'EUROPEAN' COUNCIL FOR FATWA AND RESEARCH" (February 4, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "'you have started it, you are nurturing it and don't blame the muslims for their actions'" (February 4, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: "NORWAY USED AS TERROR BASE Islamic extremists are using Norway as a base for terrorist operations overseas, but the head of Norway's security police claims they're being watched." (February 3, 2006)

BRUSSELS JOURNAL.com: "'THE WAR IS ON'" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. "The war has begun," he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. "It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.") (February 3, 2006)

AFTENPOSTEN.no/english: Aftenposten.no - Search Term: "KREKAR"

Google - Search Term: "KREKAR"

TrackingAlQaeda.blogspot.com: "EUROPEAN SITES HACKED BY MUSLIMS OUTRAGED OVER CARTOONS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "IN THEIR OWN WORDS" (February 3, 2006)

MICHELLE MALKIN.com: "THE 'INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ANGER'" (February 3, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (THESUN.co.uk): "'I love Al-Qaida' -- On London Baby's Bonnet" (February 4, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "'We Want Blood on the Streets of England'"(February 3, 2006)

alghurabaa.co.uk: "Kill those who insult the Prophet Muhammad (saw)"

INFOVLAD.net: "BOYCOTTING DANISH PRODUCTS GOES ON" (February 3, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "MUSLIMS AGAINST THE CARTOON JIHAD" by Kamal Nawash (February 3, 2006)

ISLAMONLINE.net: Cairo - "WARNINGS CARTOONS RISK VIOLENCE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The blasphemous cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by a Danish daily and other European newspapers are risking to trigger acts of violence around the world, officials and commentators warn." (February 2, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "FABRICATED CARTOONS WORSENED DANISH CONTROVERSY" (February 2, 2006)

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "WITH DENMARK: United Against Islamic Intolerance Time to Stand Up to Islama-Bullying: BUY DANISH!"

DAVIDS MEDIENKRITIK - blog: "DANISH CARTOONS: GERMAN JOURNALIST ASSOCIATION SAYS 'NO'...MAKE THAT 'YES'" (February 1, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "MUJAHIDEEN ARMY CALLS UPON FIGHTERS TO ATTACK DENMARK AND NORWAY" (January 31, 2006)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AFP): "FATWA AGAINST DANISH TROOPS" (January 31, 2006)

THE COUNTERTERRORISM BLOG: "DANISH LEFTIST GROUP OPENLY FUNDING TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS" -Posted by Olivier Guitta (January 29, 2006)

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "MUSLIMS BEGIN PING FLOOD AGAINST JYLLANDS-POSTEN" (January 29, 2006)

INTERNET-HAGANAH.com: "THE DANISH THREAT This latest threat from the 'Glory Brigades in Northern Europe' targets Denmark" (January 28, 2006)

"www.internet-haganah.com/hmedia/28jan06-denmark/index.htm" (January 28, 2006

TrackingAlQueda.blogspot.com: "Denmark is next - BOLO Denmark!!!" (January 27, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - Weblog: "The Cartoon Jihad" (January 27, 2006)

"www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/"

INFOVLAD.net: "NEXT TARGET - DENMARK?" (October 15, 2005)

[backhoe]

Everything I have found about The War of the Twelve 'Toons ( links, blogs, quips, quotes, aggravating pictures ) is located here- click the Pic, and scroll backwards:

[Fred Nerks]

from The Australian newspaper.

[ANGGAPO]

I have never met an Aussie that I didn't like.

[Beckwith]

Me too!

[Arrowhead1952]

With few exceptions, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, Austin American-Statesman and Rocky Mountain News, most newspapers decided not to show their readers any of the images, despite the fact that they're clearly newsworthy.

I saw the one cartoon in the Austin American-Statesman. Today in the editorial section, there was a letter to the editor chastising the paper for running it. I looked at the name and sure enough, a Middle East sounding name.

In the same section, there is a column which was an interview with an Islam scholar. The title is Scholar: Islam in midst of reformation

I may post that interview on FR. Great column explaining the real reason for the riots.

[Fred Nerks]

thanks, come on over! ;-)