The conflict in the Middle East moved off the front pages for a few weeks, but the deaths continued. And news from that part of the world continued to generate challenges from some Bee readers this past week.
But, during the same week, far more readers wanted to protest decisions regarding a back section of The Bee. When editors change something on the comic pages, readers notice.
The complaints show that readers do not all share the same concerns, and have many different expectations of their newspaper.
First, consider the reader comments about the news coverage of events in the Middle East early in the week.
I am appalled, one reader said, with your insensitivity for the murder of civilians and children in Palestine. Placing the Israeli murderous attack on civilians in Gaza and the murder of babies and children while they slept in the middle of the night … on Page A9 instead of on the front page reflects a lack of balance in reporting the deaths of Zionist Israelis versus those of Palistinians.
Another reader objected, in less fiery language, to the use of a meek headline in the middle of The Bee to report the sad events in Gaza City. Both accused Bee editors of inconsistency in the way casualties from Israel and Palestine are treated.
When a Palestinian suicide bomber caused far less carnage and destruction against Israel, the story appears on the front page of The Bee with a banner headline, said one reader.
Had the situation been reversed, claimed the other, it would make Page 1 headlines in every U.S. newspaper.
The Bee’s response
“The Mideast critic may be right about this news judgment in this story,” replied Deputy Managing Editor Morton Saltzman, “but he is not right about the play of recent stories.”
Saltzman pointed out that the most recent Israeli casualty stories in The Bee were displayed inside the newspaper, not on Page 1.
“On July 18, two (Israelis) were killed and 40 injured in a suicide bombing and the story was on A10. On July 17, eight were killed when Palestinian gunmen opened fire on a school bus and that story was on A8.”
The conflict in the Middle East, at least for a time, had been pushed off Page 1 by other events.
Comment: In hindsight, which is always the easiest sort of news judgment to exercise, the decision not to put the attack on Gaza City on Page 1 seems to have been a mistake. As it turned out, civilian casualties were more horrific than first thought. The human toll and political fallout were significant. That was reflected in a follow-up story on Page 1 Thursday, but was not as clear in the initial story that ran inside on Tuesday.
The Bee’s front page on Tuesday was dominated by the tumbling stock market, but there was room for a story from the Middle East. Most major newspapers that day had the story on Page 1, even if it lacked details.
Newspapers have become understandably cautious about fast-breaking stories from the Middle East.
Several lessons have been learned by news organizations dealing with the Middle East conflict. Officials on all sides limit access for journalists to the sites of conflict, maximize claims of brutality against their enemies and minimize their own mistakes. It often takes days for events to be sorted out.
The Bee’s Page 1 choices might have been less than perfect on that day, but the newspaper had been consistent in treatment of both sides and this was not an example of bias in news selection or display.
I do not, however, expect supporters of either side to agree with the editor’s decisions.
But the editor’s job is not to satisfy every partisan, or every reader, but to try to report events honestly, fairly and in context.
Not so funny
By far the most calls and complaints to The Bee this past week were regarding changes in the comics.
Last weekend The Bee introduced a new comic, “Pardon My Planet,” to the Sunday and weekday comic pages. A story explaining why it was selected ran the first day. The paper also added “The Simpsons” to the Sunday comics.
Assistant Managing Editor Pam Dinsmore fielded a lot of calls and e-mails from concerned readers, most about what had been dropped.
Dinsmore explained that “the changes were made to give the readers something new.” Of the 50 or so readers she heard from, “half were not pleased with the changes.” The problem is that “Born Loser” had some fans, and it was dropped from the daily paper, and “Crankshaft” was dropped from the Sunday lineup.
Hardly a day goes by that some reader doesn’t call to complain about one of the 40 or so comics The Bee runs. But almost every comic has fans who think it is the best thing going.
“We still welcome any and all reader comments,” Dinsmore said. “We will take them into consideration before making other changes.”
You can let her know what you think of the changes by writing an e-mail to scene@sacbee.com , or calling (916) 321-1024.
My advice to readers who are upset by a comic they don’t like? Ignore it, and read the ones you find amusing. And, take the time to let Dinsmore know what you like best.
