House: We value your trust
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Opinion
Trust is a crucial element to the success of a newspaper. It is our primary goal at The Chronicle to seek and report the truth. Recently, this newspaper printed an attempt at satire that has drawn sizeable criticism from the community and put the trust we earn and value at risk.
The article poked fun at a religious figure recognized and respected by millions of people throughout the world. We acknowledge that the attitude, delivery and concept of the article was in poor taste and insensitive. Although satire has its place in journalism, we failed to take measures to ensure it is not an engine--even accidentally--of prejudice or disrespect. We intended neither.
In order to maintain freedom of speech and an unbiased voice, The Chronicle answers to the University Publications Council, which reports directly to the Board of Trustees. U administrators have no responsibility for our content.
One risk of publishing a newspaper is that its staff will occasionally make mistakes. The majority of our writers are not aware of most material in the paper before it is printed. Neither the writer of the article nor the editors involved currently work for The Chronicle. The 2008-2009 staff does not support the statements made in the article or its attitude.
We welcome positive and negative feedback from the community, faculty, staff, administrators and students who constitute our readership. We always invite readers to write letters to the editor. In cases where that may not be appropriate or desired, we ask that readers contact us directly by letter, e-mail or phone.
Doing so will help us continue to be an independent provider of fair, accurate and respectful journalism.
letters@chronicle.utah.edu
The article poked fun at a religious figure recognized and respected by millions of people throughout the world. We acknowledge that the attitude, delivery and concept of the article was in poor taste and insensitive. Although satire has its place in journalism, we failed to take measures to ensure it is not an engine--even accidentally--of prejudice or disrespect. We intended neither.
In order to maintain freedom of speech and an unbiased voice, The Chronicle answers to the University Publications Council, which reports directly to the Board of Trustees. U administrators have no responsibility for our content.
One risk of publishing a newspaper is that its staff will occasionally make mistakes. The majority of our writers are not aware of most material in the paper before it is printed. Neither the writer of the article nor the editors involved currently work for The Chronicle. The 2008-2009 staff does not support the statements made in the article or its attitude.
We welcome positive and negative feedback from the community, faculty, staff, administrators and students who constitute our readership. We always invite readers to write letters to the editor. In cases where that may not be appropriate or desired, we ask that readers contact us directly by letter, e-mail or phone.
Doing so will help us continue to be an independent provider of fair, accurate and respectful journalism.
letters@chronicle.utah.edu
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