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Newspaper Apologizes to Palin for Headline That Called Her a 'Broad'
Politics Daily ^ | Sept 24, 2009 | Rod Boyce

Posted on 09/25/2009 11:05:31 AM PDT by Rennes Templar

A day after former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made her international debut at a Hong Kong investors conference, an Alaska newspaper apologized for a headline that ended up on the front page. Above a small photo of Palin near the bottom of Page One of Wednesday's Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the headline read, "A broad in Asia." The headline was apparently written intentionally and was not simply an error.

News-Miner managing editor Rod Boyce apologized later that afternoon for the "offensive language," noting on the paper's Web site that while the News-Miner had strong disagreements with Palin, it has thus far treated her with civility.

-snip-

The letter:

The Daily News-Miner has had its agreements and disagreements with now-former Gov. Sarah Palin at various points during her time serving the state of Alaska. We have tried to maintain respect for the office of governor and to be generally civil when discussing Mrs. Palin, her policies and the actions she took while serving as governor. The same has been true for the time since she left office.

Today I must apologize to Mrs. Palin personally and on behalf of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner for the choice of words used on the bottom of Wednesday’s front page regarding her speaking engagement in Hong Kong this week to a group of global investors.

We used offensive language — “A broad in Asia” — above a small photograph of the former governor to direct readers inside the newspaper to a full story of her Hong Kong appearance.

There can be no argument that our use of the word “broad” is anything but offensive. To use this word to describe someone of the stature of the former governor — who is also the former vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party — only adds to the anger that many people appropriately feel.

It wasn’t all that long ago that I wrote a column highly critical of Mrs. Palin for not agreeing to meet again with the editorial board of the Daily News-Miner. I used forceful language to explain my belief about why she would not meet with the editorial board. I did so, however, with civil language. It was a tough column; many people didn’t like it, though many others did. I bring up that column as a way of noting that there is a right way to disagree, a proper way to treat people.

There’s widespread belief that too much meanness exists in political discourse today. The media, already held in low regard, need to be extremely wary of that meanness slopping over into their own work. I am responsible for the content of this newspaper and need to ensure that our employees adhere to acceptable standards of decency.

I will say it clearly again now: We made a terrible mistake.

Mrs. Palin, please accept this apology from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

And please accept it from me.

I also apologize to our readers, many of whom have been devoted to this newspaper for years and who deserve better.

Rod Boyce is managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Alaska
KEYWORDS: ak; liberalmedia; palin; pds
Much more offensive than "You lie"!
1 posted on 09/25/2009 11:05:31 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
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To: Rennes Templar

Clearly they are sexist.


2 posted on 09/25/2009 11:07:04 AM PDT by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: Rennes Templar

She’s been called worse.


3 posted on 09/25/2009 11:07:40 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (dear world: we are so sorry for Barack Hussein Obama. Can you ever forgive us? ** hang the Czars.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Libs are ridiculous!


4 posted on 09/25/2009 11:07:55 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: Rennes Templar
Strange. A real apology.

Wonder what happened.

5 posted on 09/25/2009 11:07:55 AM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: Rennes Templar

That’s funny. I bet she laughed about it.


6 posted on 09/25/2009 11:09:09 AM PDT by Past Your Eyes (You don't have to be ignorant to be a Democrat...but if you are...so what?)
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To: Rennes Templar

When I lived in Fairbanks, the News Miner was a decent, conservative newspaper. Then the scum and sleaze from the lower 48 started oozing its way into the Alaskan interior.


7 posted on 09/25/2009 11:09:17 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I don't remember Americans being called "racists" when we fought against Hillarycare.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Oh, so this newspaper received a huge volume of angry phone calls and decided to change course? Not likely. Losing money often result in behavior like this. Anyone really believe this newspaper is actually sorry?


8 posted on 09/25/2009 11:11:30 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Where I used to work, the company was growing fast, and people were getting promoted very quickly. A favorite line was “Be nice to me, I might be your boss tomorrow.”

To the editor of the News-Miner: “Be nice to former Governor Palin, she might be in Washington when you bailout request comes up....”

hh


9 posted on 09/25/2009 11:11:43 AM PDT by hoosier hick (Note to RINOs: We need a choice, not an echo....Barry Goldwater)
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To: Rennes Templar

Maybe it was supposed to read “Abroad in Asia”?


10 posted on 09/25/2009 11:12:15 AM PDT by mancini
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To: Rennes Templar

“The headline was apparently written intentionally and was not simply an error”

Wow. I’d been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, thinking perhaps it was an unintentional mistake (words sometimes do get left out of text inadvertantly). But for it to be intentional is inexcusable.


11 posted on 09/25/2009 11:13:51 AM PDT by ScottinVA (This Revolution will be peaceful if possible; other than peaceful if necessary.)
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To: Rennes Templar
This is a way that an apology should be stated. I give them Kudos for that. However, it does not address the fact that someone intended to be offensive by making this slur, and I see nothing about consequences of that action. What if the paper had printed the “N” word in reference to Obama. Would an apology, even a good apology, be sufficient. i believe that it would not.

Anyone who believes that this would be an appropriate way to refer to any female needs to be replaced at the newspaper. Apologies are great but they are not sufficient in this case.

12 posted on 09/25/2009 11:14:50 AM PDT by dirtymac (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country. Calling all Son's of Liberty)
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To: Rennes Templar

Did she complain about it?


13 posted on 09/25/2009 11:15:36 AM PDT by Hunton Peck (Nice crocodile! Niiiiice crocodile! Here, have another Jew!)
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To: Past Your Eyes
I'd think she would laugh it off also.

Just don't go near her offspring if you want to keep your arms intact.

14 posted on 09/25/2009 11:15:46 AM PDT by McGruff (Transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presidency - Obama)
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To: Rennes Templar

I was going to tell Rod that maybe he’ll write better headlines after his 13th birthday but I see from his bio that he’s 47 years old. As a friend of mine used to say is it 47 years or one year 47 times?


15 posted on 09/25/2009 11:20:28 AM PDT by hometoroost (Time to bust the nut - stamp out ACORN)
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To: SoldierDad

The left is usually more touchy about using terms like “broad”, must have been making their heads spin on whether to complain about a woman being called that and liking that it was directed at Palin.


16 posted on 09/25/2009 11:21:28 AM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: HIDEK6

Threats of subscriber and advertiser cancellations...works wonders on small newspapers run by small minds!!!


17 posted on 09/25/2009 11:22:04 AM PDT by Stayfree (FLUSHTHE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS BECAUSE THEY ARE FULL OF IT!!)
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To: Rennes Templar
This reminds me of what R.J. Fletcher said in "UHF":

"I don't know how many time I've told those boys, never call chicks broads."

18 posted on 09/25/2009 11:22:43 AM PDT by AuH2ORepublican (Fred Thompson appears human-sized because he is actually standing a million miles away.)
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To: Rennes Templar
Well,at least they didn't call her a Koo Koo broad.
19 posted on 09/25/2009 11:25:02 AM PDT by 4yearlurker
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To: Rennes Templar

I wonder if they would have refered to Hillary the same way?


20 posted on 09/25/2009 11:25:09 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: Rennes Templar

This is like a serial killer apologizing for littering once.


21 posted on 09/25/2009 11:26:49 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: HIDEK6
"Strange. A real apology.

Wonder what happened."

They probably heard lots of flak from their readers.

Plenty of people in Alaska have very high regard for Sarah Palin.

I join them in my respect for her!!!

22 posted on 09/25/2009 11:27:22 AM PDT by LADY J (Change your thoughts and you change your world. - Norman Vincent Peale)
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To: Abathar

Your post conjures up images of “The Exorcist”.


23 posted on 09/25/2009 11:27:38 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Infantry Soldier whose wife is expecting twins SONS.)
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To: Rennes Templar
And when she went to Hong Kong and spoke of the Death Panels, was she speaking about “Youth in Asia”? (euthanasia)
24 posted on 09/25/2009 11:27:50 AM PDT by allmendream (Wealth is EARNED not distributed, so how could it be RE-distributed?)
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To: HIDEK6

“Strange. A real apology.
Wonder what happened”

Perhaps, it dawned on them that women do most of the household bill paying — including making subscription payments.


25 posted on 09/25/2009 11:29:37 AM PDT by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: Rennes Templar

Not only is this ridiculous, it is dumb on its face, everyone knows the “b” was not capital, meaning “out of the country,” in place of “Abroad.” This is “Political Corruption” gone wild, even when the editor or spell check is not functioning correctly.


26 posted on 09/25/2009 11:31:06 AM PDT by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
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To: hometoroost

Yet another example of the childishness of the left. The fact that they are currently in charge should be enough to scare anyone.


27 posted on 09/25/2009 11:34:16 AM PDT by rickomatic
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To: Rennes Templar
Rod is obviously an employee of Romney Worldwide Enterprises
28 posted on 09/25/2009 11:34:59 AM PDT by redangus
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To: Rennes Templar
True Story....

At least the "Parrot" is not around, I think of others on the other side of the "Isle" of which this might fit....

An old friend of mine relayed a story of his Uncle in his younger years. He lived in a below ground apartment with view of ground level. He had an aunt, or some neighborhood busybody coming by to visit him quite often. Well, he let his opinion of this lady be known when she left, with the parrot their. Well, the parrot picked up on the verbiage. Sure enough when she walked by the window: "rawwwhhh Fat @$$ rawwhhh Fat @$$....

29 posted on 09/25/2009 11:36:19 AM PDT by taildragger (Palin/Mulally 2012)
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To: Rennes Templar

Just one of the many things to love about Sarah, is her knack for bringing out the WORST in liberals.


30 posted on 09/25/2009 11:39:01 AM PDT by PalmettoMason (0bama--- Half Honkey.....ALL Donkey!)
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To: pnh102
I’m more concerned about a ph one in the White House.
31 posted on 09/25/2009 11:47:29 AM PDT by alecqss
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To: Rennes Templar

Okay, here it is. I think misogynists and racists join the liberal cause BECAUSE they are women and race haters who imagine that joining with the left will act as a control on their angry, seething natures. Ted Turner, George Soros, and Ted Kennedy spring immediately to mind.


32 posted on 09/25/2009 11:53:19 AM PDT by Havisham
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To: Rennes Templar

It made it to the front page. Will anyone be fired?


33 posted on 09/25/2009 11:53:19 AM PDT by HarleyD
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To: Rennes Templar

I’ll throw my agreement in with the posts that recognize this as a real apology. While the Editor and the author of the mistake reveal the true political leaning of the Newsminer, I think the apology is well written, even if it is an attempt to save subscriptions. There are very few ways to say I am wrong, my behavior was wrong, there is no excuse and I am sorry. I believe they thoroughly covered all these and one really can’t ask for more than that. Except the resignation of the idiot who wrote the headline.


34 posted on 09/25/2009 11:58:37 AM PDT by Integrityrocks
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To: SoldierDad

I feel your anger, but as apologies go, that one was right on. Got to give the man credit. It’s not one of those, “I apologize to anybody who was offended.” Did not make excuses. Did not turn into a second, left-hand insult.

Pretty classy, actually.

There’s nothing to say, and Mrs. Palin will surely say it, but: Apology accepted.


35 posted on 09/25/2009 12:01:17 PM PDT by StAntKnee (I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up from this dream theatre of the absurd.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Wayta go, Rod, for manning-up and doing the right thing.


36 posted on 09/25/2009 12:06:49 PM PDT by DTogo (High time to bring back the Sons of Liberty !!)
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To: Past Your Eyes
"That’s funny. I bet she laughed about it."

I think they were using a play on words, yes?

37 posted on 09/25/2009 12:16:22 PM PDT by jackibutterfly
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To: ntmxx

TRY READING THE ARTICLE.

The editor flat out admits it was DELIBERATELY stated as a “broad”, i.e “bitch” in the headline.


38 posted on 09/25/2009 12:32:41 PM PDT by Diplomat
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To: Rennes Templar
Not to worry - they will use that same title for the next article about MO traveling to another country. < /sarc>

Did I really need a < /sarc> tag after that reply?

39 posted on 09/25/2009 12:39:11 PM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (Jimmy Carter - now the second worst POTUS ever. BHO [the LIAR] has #1 spot in his sights.)
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To: Rennes Templar
It wasn’t all that long ago that I wrote a column highly critical of Mrs. Palin for not agreeing to meet again with the editorial board of the Daily News-Miner. I used forceful language to explain my belief about why she would not meet with the editorial board...

Any questions, Dumb@ss?

There’s widespread belief that too much meanness exists in political discourse today. The media, already held in low regard, need to be extremely wary of that meanness slopping over into their own work.

I am responsible for the content of this newspaper and need to ensure that our employees adhere to acceptable standards of decency.

It's not about bad manners, Dumb@ss...it's about bias.

40 posted on 09/25/2009 12:49:43 PM PDT by gogeo (Democrats want to support the troops by accusing them of war crimes.)
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To: Rennes Templar
Mrs. Palin, please accept this apology from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. And please accept it from me.

It's always easier to ask forgiveness than permission, you jerkweed.

Rod Boyce is should no longer be managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

The end needed fixin'.

41 posted on 09/25/2009 12:54:44 PM PDT by Colonel_Flagg (No apologies.)
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To: gogeo
There’s widespread belief that too much meanness exists in political discourse today. The media, already held in low regard, need to be extremely wary of that meanness slopping over into their own work.
It's not about bad manners . . . it's about bias.
With respect, not so. Everyone has his own perspective, and it is absurd to be surprised to learn that that includes people who selected themselves to be journalists. People who, if asked in college, would have said that they wanted to "make a difference."

The fault lies not with the journalist who wants to indoctrinate, it lies with the sheeple who sucker for the con that journalism which claims to be objective is, or even could be, objective. That is absurd on its face because subjectivity is simply the assumption of one's own objectivity.

So self-proclaimed objectivity is an oxymoron. Yet, I confess, it took me 'til I was almost 40 to stop taking the "objective journalism" propaganda at face value. Embarrassing, in retrospect . . .

It would be nice if children were taught about the absurdity of "journalistic objectivity" in school - but it's hard to see how that could be possible when the teachers have bought the con themselves.

Further elucidation here.


42 posted on 09/25/2009 2:25:01 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (SPENDING without representation is tyranny. To represent us you have to READ THE BILLS.)
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To: HIDEK6

They probably gave the editor responsible for it a bonus


43 posted on 09/25/2009 4:01:51 PM PDT by airedale ( XZ)
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To: SoldierDad
"Anyone really believe this newspaper is actually sorry? "

No way!

44 posted on 09/25/2009 4:30:45 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another agitator for republicanism like Sam Adams when we need him?)
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To: ScottinVA
the headline read, "A broad in Asia." The headline was apparently written intentionally and was not simply an error.

I would hope so. Rule of funny should be its own excuse.

"Never say you'rer sorry. It's a sign of weakness" Nathan Britlles.

45 posted on 09/25/2009 5:42:53 PM PDT by Oztrich Boy (Hello, Mr. President we honor you today For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!)
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To: Diplomat

I did and traced it back, ...”We used offensive language — “A broad in Asia” — above a small photograph of the former governor to direct readers inside the newspaper to a full story of her Hong Kong appearance.”

And did not see a Capital “B.” This is nothing more than hyper-sensitivity and Political Corruption run-amok. The most anyone should have apologized for is a typo!


46 posted on 09/25/2009 5:45:12 PM PDT by ntmxx (I am not so sure about this misdirection!)
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To: Rennes Templar

IMHO, they should sack the editor...


47 posted on 09/26/2009 3:51:21 AM PDT by MadAboutPalin (You betcha)
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