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Topic: Memos Sent to Romenesko
Date/Time: 9/17/2008 1:10:28 PM
Title: b editor defends use of "Douchebag" hed
Posted By: Jim Romenesko
 
b editor's memo defending the Sun tabloid's DOUCHEBAG headline

From: Tallent, Anne
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 10:03 PM
To: Roylance, Frank; Vozzella, Laura; Bowie, Liz; Desmon, Stephanie
Subject: That word

Frank, Laura, Liz, Stephanie:

Each of you had e-mailed me (or copied me on your e-mail to [Sun publisher] Tim Ryan), so please forgive me for writing a group message to everyone who e-mailed with criticisms of the story. Here's the short version:

Douchebag means something different to you than it does to b readers. I understand that to each of you it sounds offensive, but to our readers it is a commonplace term to describe a particularly lame type of guy. For reference, check out the article, "On 'Douchebags': Mapping the origins of America’s favorite insult."

The conclusion that our readers find the term commonplace is borne out by the feedback we've gotten outside the Sun newsroom -- complimentary/amused. b's readers aren't contesting the appropriateness of the term in general, but rather, "Does it apply to Dane Cook fans? Yankees lovers? Bluetooth users?" The term is part of their media diet: Gawker has a douchebag hall of fame; sites such as douchewatcher.com, douchebagalert.com and bigdouchebag.com let users identify and/or rate douchebags; Details magazine quizzes readers on douchebag tendencies.

Within the newsroom here, we actually discussed, "Do we need to have an explainer for people who might think of the term in a more literal sense?" But the consensus was no, our readers know what the term means.

I appreciate your sharing your opinions and the courtesy of copying me on your notes to Tim Ryan. Based on your reactions, I understand that the term comes as a shock to the system. But please, before taking offense, consider whether b's audience is likely to share your perceptions.

Cheers,
Anne

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