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March 15, 2006

Editor Of University of Illinois' Student Newspaper Fired Over Mohammed Cartoons

Topics: Dhimmitude

The Illini Media Company's board of directors, which is comprised of students and faculty, voted unanimously to fire Acton H. Gorton, the editor of the The Daily Illini, after a review "found that Gorton violated Daily Illini policies about thoughtful discussion of and preparation for the publication of inflammatory material." Gorton disagrees with the board and has said he sought out advice from The Daily Illini's former editor-in-chief and others before deciding to run the cartoons. He has also said that accusations he tried to hide his decision were wrong.

The paper's opinions page editor, Chuck Prochaska, also was suspended for his role in publishing the cartoons. He declined to be reinstated, the board said.

Prochaska said he and Gorton moved quickly to publish the cartoons because they were newsworthy.

"We had a news story on our hands, with violence erupting about imagery, but you can't show it because of a taboo, because of a taboo that's not a Western taboo but a Muslim taboo?" he said. "That's a blow to journalism."

Prochaska has a real point here; publishing the Muhammad cartoons may be an Islamic or Middle Eastern taboo, but that has nothing to do with Western standards and customs, and the board isn't fooling anyone with their double-speak about "thoughtful discussion of and preparation for the publication of inflammatory material." The Illini Media Company's dhimmitude is itself newsworthy, and well deserving of a few telephone calls and emails from readers expressing their feelings on the matter:

Main number: (217) 337-8300
Advertising: (217) 337-8382 ext. 555
Classified: (217) 337-8337 ext. 750
Newsroom: (217) 337-8350
Newsroom fax: (217) 337-8328
Production: (217) 337-8320
opinions@dailyillini.com

There's more on the story via the interview with Prochaska and Gorton by John Gibson on Fox.

Hat tip: Hyscience Forum member - guido5

Posted by Richard at March 15, 2006 6:58 PM

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• Editor Of University of Illinois' Student Newspaper Fired Over Mohammed Cartoons - Mar 15, 2006