One measure of a great American newspaper is how well it helps people fight all forms of prejudice and how well it listens to a key ally in that struggle – readers.
Prejudices are insidious problems. Like deadly bacteria, they infect the tiniest crevices of good intentions but can show up in the light of intense scrutiny.
The `Star-Telegram takes many steps to protect its news pages from prejudiced coverage. One advantage we have is one of the most diverse staffs of any newspaper in the United States.
Still, trying to serve as a champion of justice and tolerance is too big a job for us alone or any newspaper for that matter. We need readers’ auxiliary help. From their vantage point, they examine those crevices of our content’s good intentions and sound an alarm if they spot signs of prejudice.
Alarms went off several times last week.
Jewish readers protested the racial profiling they saw in an illustration with a Hanukkah essay.
A diverse group of readers reacted angrily to a Page One article about Christian organizations that are praying for the conversion of Muslims.
Readers also chastised us for fouling the holidays with a serial examination of a 1985 murder case.
Some of that was deserved; some of it wasn’t.
The murder series would have been published in September had the events of Sept. 11 not occurred. The series would not have been appropriate in the midst of such tragedy and mourning.
Of late, however, readers have wanted more content unrelated to the war on terrorism; mysteries interest most readers, so the series was part of our response. Matters of justice do qualify as holiday material for some but not all.
Regarding the prayer story, callers said they were non-Muslim advocates of freedom of religion. They were furious at us for reporting a development they feared would insult Muslims, mischaracterize Christians and divide the community.
In my view, this was not a must-do story. People of one faith praying for the conversion of people of another faith is an old practice. But as part of the mosaic of developments surrounding the war on terrorism, the story – more than two weeks in the making to address sensitivities – was an important report for the record.
Far more reaction followed publication of the illustration with the Hanukkah essay, a good-humored and tender story. But the package unknowingly presented a soul-searing stereotype – two large-nosed children sharing a laugh while candles on the Menorah were being lighted.
Some Jewish readers, who recall the Nazis’ caricatures of Jews as “big-nosed people with horns,” were horrified. Others were angered because the noses reduced Judaism to an ethnic group when in fact it is a religion, ancient and multi-ethnic.
Features Editor Rick Press, who wrote the essay about Hanukkah memories from his childhood, helped Senior Design Editor Mark Hoffer develop the illustration. Press jokes about his nose and, since the essay involved him and his brother, he encouraged Hoffer to draw children resembling the Press brothers.
Hoffer said he preferred to draw “two generic-looking little boys” and was sketching them when a Jewish staffer from another department walked past and said the children should “look more Jewish – with big noses.” Hoffer followed a 2-1 opinion.
Press received emails from readers who were touched by his essay, but then he heard others’ concerns. “I felt horrible.” he said. “I have no problem apologizing. It was a good lesson for me.”
And all of us as well. We’re a bit wiser, thanks to readers.
