The New York Times
In a blog post, New York Times Public Editor Margaret Sullivan takes Times Magazine freelancer Andrew Goldman to the woodshed for a Twitter exchange that showed “hideous misjudgment” on his part. Confronted by author Jennifer Weiner about a question she thought was sexist in an interview Goldman conducted, he insulted her and compared another critic to Stalin before apologizing and deactivating his Twitter account.
Times Magazine Editor Hugo Lindgren tells Sullivan he didn’t find the original question sexist, but told Goldman his Twitter behavior was “needlessly rude and insulting.”
Readers are entitled to whatever opinions they have of his work, and he needs to be comfortable with that and engage thoughtfully when appropriate, or not at all.
Weiner tells Sullivan she’d like to see Goldman do his job better; Sullivan writes: “It sounds as though he’s going to get that chance.”
Given his misbehavior on Twitter and his status as a highly replaceable freelancer, I think his editors are extraordinarily generous to give it to him.
It’s significant that the Times’ public editor is addressing how one of the organization’s writers behaved on Twitter, not in the paper’s pages. A “clear social media policy at The Times may be in order,” Sullivan writes. The Times currently does not have an explicit policy and some there like it that way. This past July, Phil Corbett, The Times’ associate managing editor for standards, told my coworker Jeff Sonderman, “in general our message is that people should be thoughtful.”
Even on Twitter, “we expect New York Times journalists to act like New York Times journalists,” Times spokesperson Eileen Murphy told The New York Observer today.
On Twitter — which will disappoint me if it does not produce many “highly replaceable” jokes Thursday — Sullivan’s strong words for Goldman were mostly applauded, though CUNY professor Jeff Jarvis pushed back against her disapproval of profanity, and Gawker reporter John Cook said Goldman’s apology reset the scoreboard.
Goldman, who Sullivan did not contact, told Capital New York, “For once in my life, I think it’s best to keep my mouth shut.”
Among the women who responded (those I found, anyway) Sullivan got raves. That’s a strong validation of The Times’ decision to finally put a woman in the job — some of Sullivan’s critiques of the paper are freighted with experiences few men will ever have, and that’s connecting with readers.
I’m ready to call @sulliview the best public editor ever. She’s made public editing fun. fm4.fm/OpsEqJ
— Farhad Manjoo (@fmanjoo) October 11, 2012
Hey, @jeffjarvis.Within reasonable guidelines.No blatant misogyny, no raging racism, that kind of thing, don’t you think?
— Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview) October 11, 2012
@sulliview I certainly get your point. Pushing the limits.
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) October 11, 2012
Seriously, @sulliview is my favorite person this week. “Highly replaceable freelancer”? Oh. My. publiceditor.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/a-t…
— Sarah Weinman (@sarahw) October 11, 2012
yes. thank you for this nyti.ms/US3KhE RT @michelledean: I have just become a gigantic fan of the Times Public Editor @sulliview.
— maura johnston (@maura) October 11, 2012
Appreciate the response but ugh MT @sulliview: After Twitter outburst, slap on wrist for Times writer Andrew Goldman nyti.ms/VRcIRb
— Helen Walters (@HelenWalters) October 11, 2012
@cheryltan88 @davidfolkenflik He wrote something dumb and apologized. The implication that he shld lose his job over it is mindless pile-on
— John Cook (@johnjcook) October 11, 2012
Disagree with a woman? Make your case. Don’t call her names. (What year is it again?) @cheryltan88 @davidfolkenflik @johnjcook @sulliview
— Jennifer Weiner (@jenniferweiner) October 11, 2012
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