The New York Times showed this weekend that Twitter can be a serviceable public editor, at least when it comes to copy editing.
On Saturday, the newspaper tweaked a headline on its profile of NBC News correspondent Katy Tur after criticism that the original headline, “Katy Tur Is Tougher Than She Looks,” was sexist. The new headline read: “Katy Tur’s Swift and Surprising Rise.”
NYT tweaks hed on Katy Tur profile after charges of sexism: pic.twitter.com/zg1sMHfSwh
— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) June 10, 2017
On Sunday, The New York Times changed the headline again, after readers complained that Tur’s hard-fought ascent at NBC News wasn’t “surprising”:
NYT tweaks hed on @KatyTurNBC profile again, presumably because there's nothing "surprising" about her success. pic.twitter.com/zc6kjNWoin
— Ben Mullin (@BenMullin) June 11, 2017
"Surprising?" What's surprising about it, NYT? @KatyTurNBC is smart, insightful, and, yes, tough. Her rise deserved, not surprising. https://t.co/FMYSEK9MAW
— Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) June 10, 2017
Readers had criticized the original headline, noting that a male journalist would likely not be described in those terms:
This is a shitty retrogressive headline. The comedy equivalent of this is to say a woman is "funny like a guy" and it sucks. Change it. https://t.co/h3h9vAIxeC
— Ken Tremendous (@KenTremendous) June 10, 2017
The NY Times changed the sexist headline below to "Katy Tur’s Swift and Surprising Rise" but this Tweet is still up. https://t.co/ZLKAnDrT0D
— Richard W. (@IceManNYR) June 10, 2017
Good! The original title was sexist, stupid, and inaccurate. Katy Tur exudes formidable-ness! @KatyTurNBC https://t.co/b7XNolrCIE
— Robert Basil (@thebasil) June 10, 2017
And the winner of "the most sexist headline of the day" award is…Katy Tur Is Tougher Than She Looks, via @nytimes https://t.co/AwDVKdpfp4
— diane carruthers (@diane1951) June 10, 2017
Love Katy Tur, great article, stupid and sexist headline. Do better @nytimes
— Black Lives Matter (@ElizKing) June 10, 2017
Great story and I love Katy Tur but this headline is somewhat sexist. She has NEVER looked weak to me. @PhilipRucker why did you say that?
— Melissa Hudson (@Cybermel360) June 10, 2017
NYTimes Katy Tur header is sexist. Am very resentful of #May picking out a district in NI for her majority, which can cause split and anger
— JEFSantamonica 😷 (@JEFSantaMonica) June 10, 2017
The New York Times has faced criticism of this sort before, most recently for an obituary of a rocket scientist that said the subject could make “a mean beef stroganoff.”
