I can’t imagine what life must be like for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick (though I’d love to imagine his paycheck in my bank account).
At 26, every aspect of his professional and private life is subject to intense scrutiny and sometimes blistering criticism. This was no ordinary week for the Falcons’ $130 million man, who came unglued after the team lost its fourth straight game Sunday and gave jeering fans some choice words and an obscene gesture that was broadcast on major TV networks for the world to see.
Most national and local television stations blurred out Vick’s gesture. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution decided to run photographer Curtis Compton’s shot of Vick, whose back was turned to the camera, giving screaming fans his middle finger.
It was an uncharacteristically candid moment in the highly scripted public life of a franchise player.
The decision to run the photograph was the subject of debate in the AJC’s newsroom. Some editors weren’t in favor of it, saying Vick’s gesture could easily be described in a sentence.
Ultimately, managing editor James Mallory decided the photograph was the story and should run as a secondary image on the front of Monday’s Sports section. Vick’s high-profile status, the fans’ frustration with the Falcons and the likelihood of a fine from the National Football League all factored into the call, he said.
“If it had been any other Falcons players I would not have been in favor running it,” said AJC sports editor Ronnie Ramos. “It was a very difficult decision, given everything. On the pro side of it, it’s Michael Vick. It is something that we knew was going to be a national story, which it did become. For someone who is the highest-paid football player in the most visible national sport to lash out at fans at home is unusual.”
Compton’s photograph is apparently the only professional shot of the incident. “It was a hard loss, an emotional loss and the fans were very loud,” said Ramos. “[Compton] was just following the players out and got the shot.”
Fans shown yelling at Vick in the background of the photograph added context to the image, said Chris Stanfield, the AJC’s photo editor.
“We weighed where to play it and how to play it,” said Stanfield, who like other editors expected some readers to be upset by the photograph.
Surprisingly, only a handful of readers contacted the newspaper to complain. One reader I heard from said Vick’s gesture wasn’t something he wanted his young sons exposed to.
Ordinarily, I’d agree with that sentiment. Profanity, racial slurs and obscene acts don’t have a place in a family newspaper unless relevant to the story. In fact, the newspaper decided this week to run dashes in place of letters in a movie title containing the F-word. The newspaper’s normal style is to avoid such words altogether or use [expletive] in brackets.
“It is a hard thing with the kids,” said Ramos of the Vick photograph. “But it can be seen as an opportunity for parents to have a conversation with their kids to show that athletes are human and make mistakes and there are penalties for it.”
Running the photograph was the right call, though I’m glad we didn’t use it on the front page. Vick’s star status makes nearly everything he does newsworthy. Sunday’s post-game antics weren’t his finest hour, but he’s had plenty of shining moments and will likely have many more.
Conflicting ages: The AJC has been using two different ages for Kathryn Johnston, the elderly woman shot to death by Atlanta police last week. The AJC relies on birth records provided by government officials or family members. In this case, the FBI, using Social Security records, says Johnston was born in 1918 and was 88. Family and friends say she was 92 and born in 1914. The family has not shown a birth certificate to reporters.
Gifts to readers return: Friday’s baby panda poster on the back of the Living section and Saturday’s caroling book in the Faith & Values section are the first of 31 “gifts” you’ll find this month.
The idea is to give readers a surprise each day along with the newspaper’s usual fare. It’s our way of saying thanks to readers.
Last year’s gifts included a historical look at Atlanta and a Big Chicken tree topper.
